# Female Revenge explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

A young woman, angered by a man's boastful intent to steal a kiss, plots a pungent revenge by eating a peck of strong onions to thwart his advances.

## Themes in this chapter

### Moral Lessons and Domestic Virtue

The poem illustrates a moral lesson about the consequences of boastful behavior and the clever, domestic means by which a woman defends her virtue.

## Character check-ins

### Bill Brown

The boastful young man who intends to steal a kiss from Mary.

### Jane

The speaker who reports Bill's intentions to Mary.

### Mary Crosby

The young lady who plots revenge by eating onions to foil Bill's kiss.

## Key lines

> Revenge is sweet, especially to women.

Retaliation brings satisfaction, particularly for women.

_Opening epigram attributed to Byron, setting the theme of vengeful delight._

> Peck of strong onions I will eat.

I will eat a large amount of pungent onions.

_Mary's plan to make herself unappealing for a kiss, using a strong-smelling food as her weapon._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/female-revenge
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters