The stories told about the various characters we meet in Miguel Street have recurrent themes of aspiration, defeat, and the desire for escape. These can be seen as overarching themes that tie the story together.

The idea of escape is prevalent in "Bogart." Bogart has created a mysterious air around himself with the stories he tells. It turns out, however, that he has made a serious mess of his life. He impregnated a woman and was forced to marry her, meaning that he now has two wives. Miguel Street is both his escape and the place where he hopes the long arm of the law will not catch him for bigamy.

Great examples of disillusionment can be found in many of the character's stories. For example, Elias gets disillusioned by his failure to become a doctor and winds up settling for being a scavenging cart driver.

B. Wordsworth is disillusioned at the realization that while he has the inspiration to be a poet, he lacks the talent.

Morgan is disillusioned by his failure to make people laugh in his comedic routines. His anger and disillusionment lead him to burning down his house in what is arguably a bid for attention.

Laura becomes disillusioned with her life choices when her daughter starts to follow in her footsteps by becoming pregnant.

In Miguel Street, the story about Bogart illustrates the idea of escape. Bogart is unable to father a child by his Tunapuna wife so he finds a means to escape this difficulty. He goes elsewhere, meets another woman and successfully impregnates. Once he has achieved his goal of proving his virility, he may return to Miguel Street although he returns as a bigamist, illustrating the duality of reward and cost of escape.

Disillusionment is illustrated in several stories about Miguel Street. B. Wordsworth is disillusioned with his hopes of becoming a poet and so he leaves Miguel Street in sorrow. Big Foot experiences disillusionment in his identity when it is discovered that he is actually a coward. In shame he leaves Miguel Street.