A key theme in Riddley Walker is the characters’ attempts to deal with the horrors of the past. These horrors occur on an individual, a social, and a historical level. For individuals, life in the post-apocalyptic world is difficult. Violence is commonplace: Physical and sexual abuse occur on a regular basis, and packs of wild dogs lurk in the shadows waiting to attack anyone who dares venture far from their community. Riddley loses his mother at an early age and loses his father shortly after he turns 12, leaving him with no one to help guide him through the difficult world. The horrors of Riddley’s past manifest in his present. The loss of his father and mother leaves him with no ties to the community, so he disappears into the woods. Eventually, the horrors of Riddley’s past and the lack of any emotional relief become too much. Riddley breaks down in tears in the penultimate chapter of the novel, finally allowing himself to grieve for everyone he has lost and the pain he has endured. Only by accepting and confronting the horrors of his past is Riddley able to mature as a person.

The society also struggles to deal with the brutal past.