What are the motifs in The Lower Depths by Maxim Gorky?

Degradation is a part of life in the lower depths, and the undercurrent theme of people as animals or beasts indicates this condition. Early in Act I the Baron calls Nastiah a "silly goose" for reading romances, humiliating her in front of the rest of the boarders. Moments later the former aristocrat dons a yoke for carrying containers to market, suggesting he is a workhorse. Shortly afterward, Kleshtch sarcastically suggests Kostilioff "Put a halter around my neck..." to use and degrade him further. All this imagery so early in the text sets the tone for the play, in which people are degraded and treated inhumanely.