The time in which Tony Kushner places his characters is portrayed as a pivotal crux in human history. Old systems are giving way to the chaos that must precede the formation of the new systems. We are presented with the prevailing sentiment of the dying of the old world almost immediately at the onset of the play. The old world is dead and closed to us, we must move on. In her first scene, the slightly neurotic, valium addicted, Harper has a moment of insight when she talks about her fear relating to the depletion of the ozone layer.
Society seems to be having a tough time adopting a system of classification.
The couple, Louis and Prior hold an extended conversation at the end of the funeral about appropriate names for cats, as opposed to dogs. Old classifications have become outdated but new ones remain yet to be formed. Perhaps the most poignant example we are given of the theme of the absence of order is through the experience of another main character, Joe. Joe works in the city justice building and one day, confused goes to work on a Sunday. There was no order at all.