The lady's dressing room

In 'The Lady's Dressing Room', Jonathan Swift uses satire to critique societal expectations of beauty and the lengths to which women go to achieve an ideal image.

The poem follows Strephon as he discovers the filthy and smelly conditions of his sweetheart Celia's dressing room, leading to a disillusionment with the idealized image of women.

Swift's work is known for its vivid and often grotesque portrayal of bodily functions, reflecting his 'excremental vision'.