 The "Companion" considers "Torikaebaya" to deal with issues of sex, sexuality and gender "more profoundly" than William Shakespeare or Ben Jonson.The princess's acceptance of the male Naishi no Kami as a female and a lover has been variously described as either that she is very sheltered, or that sexual relationships were common between court ladies at the time.Although the tale has been regarded as immoral, Gregory Pflugfelder says that ultimately, the tale conforms to traditional roles.