The hard life
Instead of getting her rightful inheritance, Anna is forced to survive the most grueling fate she can imagine. Instead of a vibrant, joyful life in the colorful Caribbean, Anna must live on the wrong side of London where she is constantly treated like a prostitute. Men use her without ever caring for the injustice of her situation. These thematic issues point to a brokenness in Western civilization, especially when it comes to the lower class.
Feminism
This novel argues for the ethical, equal treatment of women by showing the gritty reality of the urban underground. Although most civilized people don't like to think about it, impoverished women are often exploited. This novel shows how Anna fights against the constant pressure from others to become a prostitute. In other words, the novel shows that people don't actually want Anna to succeed, especially not when they feel like they can use her for sex or money.
Autonomy
Instead of showing Anna as a serious moral heroine, the novel shows how limited her potential becomes without community support. There is a part of her that wants to keep the baby, but without a place to stay, a source of income, a support system, or a family, Anna's options are severely limited, and when her only friend urges her to abort the baby, she agrees. Ultimately, Anna ends up severely injured by the abortion, and she ends the novel by telling the reader that she doesn't want to do another life cycle like this. These are pictures of dependence. Without any way to support herself, Anna is restricted to the will of those who want to misuse her. She dreams of freedom.
