During modern times, various opinions have emerged as follows: to satisfy her literary talent and creative urge as an author; to distract herself from her loneliness as a widow and forget the tedium; to become a court lady and follow in the footsteps of her father, who had obtained his title through means of literary talent.
近代以降にも、作家としての文才や創作意欲を満たすため、寡婦としての寂しさや無聊を慰めるため、式部の父がその文才で官位を得たように式部が女房になるため、といった様々な説が唱えられている。