Great Depression Motif
One of the most-used motifs in the play is that of the Great Depression. Although the family are having difficulties in making ends meet, and are finding that their own expanded household has coincided with a downturn in their economic fortunes, the Great Depression is the underlying reason for that because everyone is suffering from lack of income, and the inability to meet their financial needs. Although Eugene's father feels that it is his responsibility to provide for the family, and he is reluctant to use the country's economic climate as a reason for this,
Sexual Awakening
Eugene is going through puberty and he is finding it difficult to navigate his way through his changing feelings about girls. He is learning that he really likes girls, but he is still very much anchored to his childhood in that his attraction to them is still secondary to his childhood interests. His attraction is also still at the crush stage rather than in actually pursuing any feelings. He does not yet recognize his interest as sexual, but is nonetheless beginning to experience a sexual awakening that he is struggling to understand.
Red Lipstick Symbol
Eugene's cousin Nora is really his first crush. She is a typical bombshell of a girl, and she wears bright red lipstick, which to Eugene is a symbol of bombshell sexuality. It is also a symbol of being sexy and attractive to Nora herself, which is why she wears it.
Broadway Dancer Symbol
Nora dreams of being a dancer on Broadway. This, to her, symbolizes glamor and excitement, and also symbolizes the start of her life as a young woman of independent means.
Dreams on Hold Motif
One of the things that the characters have in common is the fact that they are having to put their dreams on hold because of economics. Eugene dreams of becoming a baseball star but in reality is not good enough to do this. However, Nora is a good enough dancer to make a career out of performing, but she is not able to pursue this dream because the family need her to bring in a wage packet to help them make ends meet. Similarly, Stanley, Eugene's older brother, dreams of leaving his current job and working somewhere where his boss is easier to work for. He has found himself in arguments with his supervisors and is forced to hold his tongue, and make the best out of it, despite having dreams of working somewhere else.
