What are the Themes of This Property Is Condemned?

Answer 1

The main theme here is desperation. Alva, played by Natalie Wood, is desperate to escape her mother's manipulation and the small-town boarding house she lives in. Her mother, on the other hand, is desperate to keep Alva put, so she (Alva) can keep "putting out" and help the family survive economically.

The whole tawdry scene is turned upside down by the arrival of Owen, played by Robert Redford, who comes to town to lay half off the railroad workers (many of whom live at the boarding house). Needless to say, he isn't popular. And, frankly, he's not the most likeable character, though very handsome, which Alva is quick to notice.

Owen becomes Alva's ticket out of town...but for once, she's not simply using another man. She genuinely falls in love him, and he with her. It's quite amazing to see these two -- one almost a pathological liar, the other almost emotionally dead -- transformed by love.

Unfortunately, as we already know from the beginning, things don't turn out well. Not because Alva doesn't follow her heart. She does. But she forgets something important -- the wolves are always at the door. And you can't crack it open, even for an instant.

Answer 2

Some themes of "This Property is Condemned" include poverty, desperation, dysfunctional family dynamics, and resilience in the face of adversity. The play explores the impact of neglect and abandonment on the characters' lives, as well as the struggle for survival in harsh circumstances.