The Vagabond Analysis

The women that lived through the Meiji and Taisho Era were limited when it came to sources of income. Prostitution began after the Meiji Era Restoration. The struggles that were faced by women of this time in depicted in both “The Vagabond” and the movie “Street of Shame.” “The Vagabond” depicts Fumiko’s experiences of her life in the 1900’s during the national recession. During this time period life was pertained as humble, a struggle with poverty, “My father spent his life in poverty, buried in debts” (Hayashi, “Diary of a Vagabond” pg 123). A “vagabond” is defined as someone who “moves from place to place without a fixed home” (http://www.meerriam-webster.com/dictionary/vagabond). This was exactly what Fumiko was “A traveler distressed

The women who worked had to do this to help provide for their families. Each character dealt with their own personal dilemma to make ends meet. Yumeko played by Aiko Mimasu says, “We couldn’t live unless I sold myself,” (Street of Shame. Dir Mizoguchi Kenji. Perf. Machiko Kyo. Ayako Wakao. Michiyo Kogure. Aiko Mimasu 1956. Film). Since these women were being provided for by an overseer they build up debt. With the Anti-Government Prostitution Bill not being passed the women continued to work, their overseer said, “I provide everything for you girls, imagine how you would be making a living if the Anti-Prostitution bill was passed” (Street of Shame. Mizochi Kenji. Perf. Haruo Tanaka). They would not of had been in prostitution if the Japanese society had provided them with better means of work. There was no hope of escaping from their work. Yasumi was able to leave hardship of prostitution through collecting loans and deceiving men into helping her pay her debts, “It is foolish to argue about owning you money, I used you to get out of here” (Street of Shame. Mizochi Kenji. Perf Ayako Wakao). An important quote by Hanae, “You can wipe off the rogue but not the make-up of your trade,” (Street of Shame. Mizochi Kenki. Perf Michiyo Kugure). No matter what the characters pursue once they leave the life of prostitution they will always be