Father Son
The father-son relationship is a major theme in this play. Alan's whole life he's wanted to come live with his dad, who his mother didn't want him to live with. Once Alan arrives his expectations are met with the reality of who his father is: a womanizing, demanding, selfish, assuming person. The same man who left him and his mother, and abandoned his mom when she had a stillborn child by being out with another woman as she gave birth to a dead child.
Foster Homes
Foster homes is a major theme in the play that is characterized by the relationships between Douglas, Ronnie, Penny and Carol. Penny and Carol are teenage wards of the state. The state pays Douglas and Ronnie to take care of them, and they have the kids sign over there checks to them (Alan discovers it's more than what they pay for the rent). Ronnie lives in the belief that they are one of the best foster homes in San Diego. But, Douglas' coming on to Penny reveals how Ronnie wears blinders when it comes to her husband's actions. And, even in one of the best foster homes in San Diego, Carol is able to sneak drugs. Three of the five kids leave the home, with Carol losing her life. The play shows the harm of not being raised by your blood parents and how easily someone can be deemed worthy of raising a child.
Blind Eyes
Ronnie is the character that embodies this the most as she sides with Douglas throughout the play, even telling Penny that she is being overly dramatic about Douglas coming on to her. On her wedding night with Douglas is when Ronnie finds out that he has a son, Alan. He doesn't divulge anything deeply to her, and believes he can get out of sticky situations by screaming at everyone that they were wrong and he is right, a belief that Ronnie desperately attempts to cling to until she no longer can.
