The most prominent theme of Swamp Angel by Ethel Davis Bryant is the concept of escapism. The protagonist decides to journey into the interior of British Columbia in order to escape a routine life in Vancouver. She is also exhausted by her second marriage, and she no longer feels the passion within the relationship.

Her escapist tendencies mirror the migration pattern of birds, which she observes in the natural surroundings of British Columbia.

Another theme closely related to that of escapism is the idea of renewal. The protagonist, Maggie, ends up in a town called Hope, which is blatantly symbolic of Maggie's yearning for a new beginning. Even her best friend, Nell, bears the surname Severance. Both Maggie and Nell have severed themselves from the shackles of society and lived their respective lives like free-spirits.

The ending touches on the theme of memory, and its relation to keeping humans anchored to the past or to our comfort zones. The characters' actions illustrate that it is only when one severs their ties with memories that they can find freedom.