Family Life
The main theme of Brighton Beach Memoirs is family life. This is what Eugene is talking about the most, and this is what his own life revolves around in this first memoir. All of his family members sacrifice part of themselves for the good of the household; his father works all hours and opens his home to an extended family. His mother is taking care of her nieces as well as her own children. Stanley has to work because the family needs his money. Eugene also describes his family life in detail; nothing extraordinary happens, but we see their day to day existence in a memoir not only of his life but also of similar kids growing up in similar homes in New York.
Economic Downturn
The family is going through an economic downturn. There are more mouths to feed but no real increase in the number of people working to support them. It is hard to make ends meet. Eugene's father works extremely hard and long hours because his extended family have moved in. Cousin Laurie doesn't work; she has a heart murmur, which means that she is allowed not to work at any job even one that would not be detrimental to her health. Cousin Nora has dreams of being a dancer, but she might have to put those on hold and get a job that will be more reliable and provide a wage packet more quickly. Stanley is unhappy at work and has to suffer the vindictiveness of a cruel boss because if he stands up for himself too much he will lost the job, and the family cannot afford for him to do so. The threat of not having enough money is a constant worry for the family but for Eugene's family in particular.
Puberty
Eugene is not only going through puberty; he seems to be suffering through it too, because it is a source of confusion and also a time of learning more about himself and his own feelings about women. He is at the stage where he is not so much attracted to a girl, but he experiences crushes that he will not act upon at all. He lacks confidence when it comes to affairs of the heart, even though he is beginning to notice girls far more, one of whom is his cousin Nora, which throws up its own difficulties given that they are living in the same house.
