"The Scrutiny" is a playful and lighthearted poem about a man trying to justify infidelity. The tone remains humorous throughout and the poem is farcical enough to not be taken seriously. The poem begins while two lovers are having a conversation about infidelity. The speaker admits he has been unfaithful but claims that it is unfair to expect him to be.
The title of the poem refers to the fact that the speaker is being scrutinized by his lover. In response to this scrutiny, the man uses humor and wit to try and get himself out of the situation. Ultimately, he tries to turn his infidelity into a compliment, saying that it is the only way he can prove that she is the most beautiful woman.
The speaker is clearly somebody who does not like commitment. He admits that he had made vows to his lover "last night," but with the morning he had changed his mind. This is interesting, as mornings often represent new beginnings in literature. In this poem, the morning represents a return to the speaker's unfaithful ways.
