The story centers on a traditional romantic bond between Gwynplaine and Déa. It lacks explicit non-cisnormative identities or narratives that critique heteronormativity.

Déa serves as the story's emotional and moral compass, subverting typical active/passive tropes through her unique perception. However, the film still relies on traditional supportive female archetypes.

Set in 17th-century England, the film focuses on socioeconomic stratification rather than ethnic diversity. It uses traveling performers to represent a marginalized class without significant racial blending.

The film offers a sharp critique of established power structures and the callous aristocracy. It frames the struggle of the marginalized as a systemic conflict against a corrupt hierarchy.

Gwynplaine’s disfigurement and Déa’s blindness are treated with agency rather than pity. These conditions serve as lenses to explore identity and the difference between surface and true reality.