The first part of the Vagabond reveals a lot about, not only about the protagonist, but also about the social climate during the time this book was set. It always gets me that the majority of the constructs present in these books from the early 1900s are still extremely relevant now. When Renee divorced her husband she was automatically viewed as less of a woman. This still has presents itself now in society. When a woman seeks for independence, as Rene e did, she's no longer a woman because for some reason having a man completes a woman and without one she is nothing. Women should be able to express themselves, married or not, and shouldn't be made to feel bad about. Yet, once again, the social constructs hold women back and when one does get the courage to break them they are essentially chastised and receive the cold should, much like Renee did from her society friends.