[1]: xxii The protagonist befriends insects, names her attendants after them, and engages in poetic exchanges involving furry caterpillars, leading to laughter on the part of others.
Portrayed as even more eccentric is her disregard for her physical appearance: she leaves her hair untrimmed; has unplucked eyebrows; neglects to blacken her teeth; and allows herself to be seen by men.
p.63 Donald Keene has suggested that, while the reader may be attracted by her independence of mind, the author was probably trying to satirize those with eccentric behaviour and unconventional tastes.
[2] Robert Backus argues that the modern reader may prefer her independence and naturalness to the "excessive artificiality of the Heian conception of feminine beauty".
[1]: 43 He also draws parallels with the vernacular setsuwa tradition and anecdotes told of Fujiwara Munesuke, the bee-keeping minister, who gave his favourites names such as "Long Legs" (足高, Ashitaka), "Short Horns" (角短, Tsunomijika), and "Speckled Wings" (羽斑, Hanemadara).[1]: 45f.