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Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. 

The Harsh Reality of Aging  

Age and retirement in difficult economic times are a central component of the film’s fabric as a sixty-something Fern struggles to find work following the collapse of her livelihood when the US Gypsum Plant shuts down in Empire, Nevada, a casualty of the Great Recession. Time and time again, the film reminds the audience of Fern’s financial hardship, emblematic of an entire generation’s struggle. Fern bounces from one low-paying job to another when she’s not working her seasonal Amazon gig. Eventually her van dies, and she’s forced to plead for a loan from her sister Dolly in order to get the necessary repairs. When encouraged to consider retirement at an employment office, Fern reveals the social security benefits are not enough to make ends meet. And, as evidenced by the film’s myriad of characters, she’s not alone.  

Linda May shares that she nearly took her own life when she lost everything in 2008 and eventually found Bob Wells’ Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR), a sort of nomadic support group for overlooked senior citizens in similar situations. In one RTR meeting, Bob succinctly describes the problem aging Americans face in 2011: society has abandoned its elderly population when they are no longer a useful part of the workforce, and RTR functions as a means by which the elderly can care for each other. 

Early on in Nomadland, Merle, a member of RTR, shares a heartbreaking story of a coworker who died ten days before retirement, never having been able to enjoy the fruit of his labor. Merle quits her job in response and starts a nomadic life rather than face the grim idea of working herself to death. This sentiment underpins the story of the nomads in this film, most of them at or near retirement age, who choose to pursue life on the road. This isn’t the easiest of lifestyles for the aging characters, but for some, it’s more favorable than spending their twilight years with little financial stability to show for years of work. Though Nomadland is but a snapshot in time, its message continues to echo the greater anxiety of America’s aging population surrounding retirement and social security.  

The Preservation of the Past 

Fern wrestles with holding onto her past for nearly the entirety of the story. Reminders of her memories appear throughout the film, starting from the opening scene where she goes through various items in her storage unit. She coddles a jacket that belonged to her late husband Bo and removes a box of dishes her father gifted to her. The dish set makes further appearances when she shows them off to Linda May, stored in her van in a cabinet made from Bo’s old fishing box. In two separate sequences, Fern reminisces on the past, studying old photos of her childhood and her husband. She snaps at Dave when he accidently breaks her prized dishes while attempting to be helpful, though she manages to glue one of the plates back together with careful precision. This moment outwardly reflects Fern’s inner struggle to preserve her past, while also showing the fragility of what she holds dear. It is significant that Dave is the one to break her dishes as he represents moving forward without Bo. In Fern’s mind she is still married to Bo, which prevents her from entertaining Dave’s clear interest in her. She simply hasn’t moved on, referring to her marriage in one scene in the present tense, her wedding band still on her finger.  

In a breakthrough moment, Fern confesses to Dave’s daughter-in-law that she stayed in Empire far longer than she should have in order to keep the memory of Bo alive. As the Nomadland draws to a close, Fern has another pivotal conversation, this time with Bob Wells, who gives Fern the last push she needs to release herself from the weight of her grief. All of this culminates in her decision to return to Empire and empty her storage unit of all remaining items, evidence of her inner change. She revisits the US Gypsum plant and her home with the mountain view she treasured so much, finally experiencing a sense of closure as she lets go of the hold of the past. 

The Transience of Life 

Transience as a natural part of life underscores the story of Nomadland. Most notably, we see transience in the structure of the film as a road movie with characters dipping in and out of Fern’s life at various points of her nomadic travels. On more than one occasion, Fern finds herself watching a friend’s van drive away only for her to run into them again in another town. Bob Wells, the head of the nomadic support group, opts to say “see you down the road” rather than goodbye and tells Fern that she will see her late husband again in another life. Nothing feels permanent in the world of Nomadland, with life on the road being a constant ebb and flow of people and places.  

Yet, Fern must go on both a physical and emotional journey in order to reach this acceptance of transience. As much as she tries to hold on to time, she learns that it ultimately slips through your fingers no matter how tightly she squeezes. Through Swankie and her resolve to adventure in nature despite having an aggressive cancer diagnosis, Fern witnesses how transience makes life precious and thus worth savoring. 

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