Yes, guilt could be a theme.
personally, I would think that the theme would be friendship.
The theme of the short story "Was it a Dream?" by Guy de Maupassant revolves around the blurred lines between reality and illusion, and the psychological effects of guilt and paranoia. The story raises questions about the nature of truth and the unreliability of perception.
Edgar Allan Poe often addressed themes of madness, death, and lost love in his works. In "The Tell-Tale Heart," he explores the theme of guilt and obsession, as the narrator becomes consumed by his own guilt over a murder he has committed.
The theme of Stephen King's story "Nona" revolves around fear, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions. It delves into the darker aspects of human nature and the impact of past mistakes on an individual's psyche.
The three tones found in "Scarlet Ibis" are guilt, directness, and accusative. More tones exist in the story, but these are the most defined that tie in with the central theme.
if by theme you mean lesson learned then I think the answer would be chase your dream or something like that.
the theme of this story is "life"
Without a theme, a story may lack focus and depth. Themes provide the central message or idea that the story conveys, helping to create meaning and resonance for the reader. A story without a theme may feel disjointed or lacking in substance.
The theme of "A Father's Confession" short story revolves around the complexities of familial relationships, guilt, and redemption. The story delves into the emotional turmoil experienced by the father as he grapples with his past actions and seeks forgiveness. It also explores the impact of secrets and the power of confession in finding closure and healing within the family dynamic.
The motif in "The Tell-Tale Heart" is the theme of madness and guilt. The narrator's increasingly irrational behavior and his inability to rid himself of guilt over the murder he has committed are central to the story. This motif adds to the overall sense of suspense and psychological tension in the narrative.
The difference between plot and a theme is that plot is series of events that make up a story and a theme would be the main idea of the story or what the author says about life in this story. Plot would be in other words technically the story itself and what is happening to make it a story. It's like building something which always needs specific ideas or anything you think it needs to be created. A story is like that in a way. A story specifically obviously needs a beginning, a problem/conflict, some events that might have caused the problem, the solution, and an ending. Theme is what the main idea is in the story. Theme could also be what the author is telling you about life like for instance in a book, like for children usually, the theme might be always wash your hands before touching or eating anything or treat others the way you want to be treated. That would be the theme. The plot is the order of events in which a story has. The theme is the main idea of a story.
The theme would be the most important element in a short story about a moral conflict. It sets the tone and guides the characters' decisions and actions, ultimately leading to the resolution of the conflict.