Abandonment
Abandonment is a major theme of this play. We see that Booth and Lincoln's parents left them one after another with nothing but each other and some money to survive. We see that the two men have clearly not had the necessary influence to fulfill their own potential. And, we learn that they betray each other in more than one way with Booth having slept with Lincoln's wife and Lincoln hustling Booth for his inheritance. All they know is being alone and once Booth kills Lincoln he is finally all alone in the world.
Poverty
Poverty is seen throughout the play as a major theme. It creates the need for the brothers to do whatever is necessary to make money. Lincoln resorted to being a 3-card Monte hustler until the hustle claimed the life of his friend Lonny, and Booth has no real world work skills, and makes his way in the world by boosting everything he needs. We see that Booth and Lincoln are the product of familial poverty that was never cured due to their parents running out on them when they were only 11 and 16. Booth especially believes that his only way to money is through illegal means. He has a poverty of the mind to a greater degree than Lincoln.
Inheritance
Inheritance makes its appearance throughout the play as Booth and Lincoln reveal their parents each gave them both $500 a piece as a parting inheritance to them. Booth has never touch his $500 from his mother until he wagers it with Lincoln on a game of 3-card Monte. It is the lack of inheritance that permeates the play as both characters weren't raised to seek more for their lives, they were simply left behind and they inherited the duty of raising themselves, and their names indicate that they inherited the curse of a cruel irony played out by their father in naming them.
