am looking for the underlying theme of this short story. (ie: what underlying message the author is trying to convey to the reader) I need to later include textual evidence quoted from the story.

I think that the theme has something to do with the event when Andy found his own identity- that it was not related to the 'Royals' jacket he possessed- right before he died.

Am I on the right track?

Dingwall

Irony is used through out the whole story. Like at the start he said that it was a "fierce rumble" and he was acting all tough because he was a royal. Then he discovered that the only reason he was jumped was because he was a royal. The he was wanting to move to a safer neighborhood because there was so much voilence. Then the last thing he wanted to do was not to associated with the Royals and his last dyeing energy was used on taking the jacket off that caused his death.

Im not sure if that really helps but yea there u go.