The Reason That Induced Dr. S. to Write a Poem Called The Lady's Dressing Room

Jonathan Swift addresses women in this poem in a very satirical way. He criticizes women in exaggerated ways and is basically just criticizing women. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu wrote a poem, "The Reasons That Induced Dr. S. to Write a Poem Called the Ladies Dressing Room" in response to Swift's immense criticism on women. It is a satire and was noted as a sort of "poetic duel" between the two poets in which Montagu attacks Swift's character and suggests he wrote "The Ladies Dressing Room" as a result of his sexual frustration and impotence. Although Swift's poem has seen greater praise, both are seen as gender role and stereotype satires.

Montagu is addressing "the Doctor", or Swift, in this poem as the protagonist. It expresses his journey in which he was meeting with a prostitute named Betty that he had previously been attempting to court. After paying for her services, he finds himself expereiencing an episode of impotence. He blames this on Betty's "sexual inabilities" and she retorts back that it has to do with his old age. The doctor asks for his money back but Betty refuses. He swears vengeance and says he will write a poem describing her dressing room, thus the creation of the satire, "The Ladies Dressing Room." Not only does Montagu's satire attack Swift's writings, but it also suggests his mysogynistic nature. Swift's poem attacks women in nature, claiming they are vile and disgusting human beings, while Montagu suggests Swift's anger only comes from his own sexual incapacity.