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The character Murasaki is not to be confused with the author of the novel, who was not a child bride. Even though her life story is not the same as the author's, the character does represent the author in terms of personality and self-image. Some critics argue that Murasaki is tiresomely perfect, and that several of the novel's other female characters are more interesting.<ref name=between>Tyler, Royall, ''The Disaster of the Third Princess: Essays on the Tale of Genji'', "[http://press.anu.edu.au/third_princess/mobile_devices/ch01.html Genji and Murasaki: Between Love and Pride]", ANU</ref>
Through much of the novel's extended narrative, Murasaki is dominated by Genji. Her personality becomes an extension of his. In the face of Genji's continued infidelity, she grows increasingly disgusted and resentful. In the novel's climatic scene, Murasaki announces her discovery of self: "There I was, [she] thought, completely miserable, and he, simple pastime or not, was sharing his heart with another! Well, I am I!”.<ref name="between" /> The line "I am I" is an abbreviated form of, "You are you, I am I." (''kimi wa kimi, ware wa ware''), a line from a poem popular at the time.<ref>Tyler, Royall, ''The Disaster of the Third Princess: Essays on the Tale of Genji'', "[http://press.anu.edu.au//third_princess/html/ch01s02.html Jealousy and self-affirmation]," ANU.</ref> In Japanese popular culture, Murasaki's image Self affirmation of this kind is radically simplified compared to that presented not interpreted favorably in the novelJapanese culture. She Murasaki is remembered, perhaps unfairly, as a jealous woman.
Murasaki dies in her early forties. Genji, then in his early fifties, survives her as a mere shell of his former self. It appears that after the reader sees him for the last time, he leaves the world, retires to a [[Buddhist]] temple, and dies within a year or two.<ref>"[http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/taleofgenji/introduction3.html The Tale of Genji]"</ref>
