The primary social concern for Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy, the exploitation of women, is one found in many of Godden's works. Lise, the novel's protagonist, works as a procuress in a middle-class Parisian brothel. A former prostitute herself, Lise's role as a procuress means that she is, to an extent, aiding in the exploitation of other women; but, at the same time, her innate kindness leads her to look after the prostitutes and safeguard them from further exploitation. Men, particularly Patrice, one of the brothel's owners, are the primary perpetrators of violent acts against women. Eventually, Lise herself commits a violent act, murdering the evil Patrice. Patrice's cruelty makes readers sympathetic to Lise's violent act.

While imprisoned for Patrice's murder, Lise receives visits from the Dominican sisters of Bethanie, a community of nuns that welcomes ex-convicts to be converted and to join its ranks...