Unlike Anna, Anys has no hesitations about sex. She's also a pro at making up hilarious euphemisms, if this passage is any indication. Because of her free-spirited nature, Anys becomes a big inspiration to Anna as she struggles against her own repressed desires and redefines her sense of femininity in the process.

Anys portrays herself as part of a long line of herb-loving medicine women. We're not sure how literally we're supposed to take this idea, but it certainly provides a powerful symbol of her rejection of gender roles. Anys and Mem both defy their society's expectations for them, and as a result, they have formed a very different type of community outside its walls.

In another example of her forward-thinking ways, Anys sees marriage as a property arrangement that benefits men yet subjugates women. How does that benefit her? Well, if you ask her, it doesn't.