Theories of Relativity explores the dangerous and degrading life of youth on the streets, and a large part of that life is the gradual lowering of personal standards that comes with trying to survive. Every street kid exhibits this decline in what’s acceptable to them personally either prior to the start of the novel, as seen with Amber and Twitch, or as the novel progresses, as shown through Dylan and Jenna.

Dylan is the strongest representation of this degradation as his morals are made clear at the beginning, especially regarding Vulture. Dylan resents Vulture but also fears him, saying, “I kept out of [Vulture’s] clutches. But I’m not stupid. I stay out of his way” (12). Dylan knows Vulture uses hardships and drugs to control people, narrating, “A party, a beer, a snort of coke, a joint, a night of warmth off the street and suddenly you’re in Vulture’s grip” (17). Despite Vulture’s invitations and threats, Dylan works to keep his freedom from Vulture’s empire, priding himself on the independence that comes with it.

However, as the novel progresses, Dylan’s hardships increase, and he dances at the edge of Vulture’s control multiple times, tempting Jenna to defy Vulture.