Generational Discord
One of the first themes introduced in the play is the conflict between generations. At the beginning of the first act, Germaine quarrels with her daughter Linda. She disapproves of her going out and spending time with her boyfriend. She complains throughout the play about what she perceives as her selfish and thoughtless behavior. This conflict also becomes apparent in Lise's clash with Rose about unwed mothers, as Rose believes they deserve no kindness or compassion. These fights are representative of the shifting perceptions of their respective generations.
Propriety
Propriety is another major theme in the play. As they sit at Germaine's table, the guests frequently comment on other people's behavior. Germaine and Rose say incredibly harsh things about their sister Pierrette, who they see as immoral because she works at a club and spends her time in bad company. Likewise, Rose states that she believes Linda is beginning to pick up some bad qualities from going out so much. Late in the play, they are scandalized when they learn that Angéline has been going to the club. In all of these instances, these criticisms are not based on meaningful observation, but superficial appraisal.
Domestic Labor
Domestic labor is also a recurring theme in the play. When delivering their soliloquies or speaking as a chorus, the women frequently discuss the many household chores and jobs they are thanklessly tasked with. Thérèse has to take care of her ailing mother-in-law Olivine. She is angry about this, as the job fell to her after her husband could not afford to put her in a nursing home. All of the women, as indicated in the chorus section, spend almost all of their time cooking and cleaning for people who aren't particularly grateful. Domestic labor is highlighted in the play as a major source of tension for the women, as they are constantly exhausted from work that is unappreciated and unseen.
Class
Class is one of the most essential themes of the play. It informs almost all of the conflicts and is, in many regards, the central driver of its plot. The characters in the play are all working-class women (this was evidenced in the original, untranslated play, as they spoke in the Quebecois dialect, Joual, instead of standard French). They all have aspirations for higher status, but choose to handle this in different ways. Lisette puts on airs, pretending to live a more affluent lifestyle, affecting a French accent and bragging about European vacations and fur coats. However, it is revealed by both Rose and Lisette's soliloquies that she is merely putting on a front and that she covets Germaine's stamps as much as everyone else. The play reveals how class impacts the characters' sense of themselves, pushing them to shape their behaviors around how they are seen.
Gossip
Gossip is a major theme throughout the play. As the women sit around the table and affix stamps, they recount various local stories and speculation. Rose expresses concern when someone says her son was seen kissing her neighbor's daughter, against whom she is prejudiced because the girl's family is Italian. The women also speculate about the possible pregnancy of a young woman in their town. Germaine and Rose also harshly critique their sister Pierrette for working at a club and being involved with a man who is supposedly disreputable. Often these scenes highlight how gossip spreads with little to no basis in fact or reality and is then repeated to harmful effect. The play portrays how it forms and then takes hold of a group of people.
Religion
Religion, and religious hypocrisy, figure prominently in the play. Most of the characters are very conservative and consider themselves very devout. They fulfill the visible requirements of their faith, attending church services and listening to religious radio programs. However, the more abstract tenets of their Christianity, like showing compassion and not stealing, are not respected. Many of the women take Germaine's stamps throughout the play. Likewise, they are very quick to judge Angéline for being a regular at the club where Pierrette works. Ironically, it is Pierrette, who is viewed as the black sheep of Germaine's family, who demonstrates the most sympathy and support for Linda's friend Lise, as she wrestles with whether or not to have a child out of wedlock. The play pokes holes in the women's performance of religious virtue, showing how it largely hinges on social perception rather than true faith.
Repression
Repression is another major theme in the play. This aspect of the women's lives is particularly highlighted in their soliloquies, as they are able to reveal their thoughts directly to the audience, without having to temper or omit them. Rose feels unfulfilled in her marriage and is disgusted by her husband. Lisette does not have as much money as she pretends to, but feels the need to perform a higher social status. Des-Neiges is in love with a traveling salesman and feels afraid that she will lose him. In all of these moments, the women speak about the things they feel unable to say because of the social pressures surrounding them. The play suggests that the structure of their social world requires that they repress these feelings, as they do not neatly align with their values.
