This was an easy matter with a man
Oft in the wrong, and never on his guard;
And even the wisest, do the best they can,
Have moments, hours, and days, so unprepared,
That you might "brain them with their lady's fan;"
And sometimes ladies hit exceeding hard,
And fans turn into falchions in fair hands
And why and wherefore no one understands.
'Tis pity learned virgins ever wed
With persons of no sort of education,
Or gentlemen, who, though well born and bred,
Grow tired of scientific conversation;
I don't choose to say much upon this head,
I'm a plain man, and in a single station,
But–Oh! ye lords of ladies intellectual,
Inform us truly, have they not hen-peck'd you all?

In this passage from "Don Juan," Lord Byron humorously critiques the mismatched union of intellectual women with less intellectually inclined men. Byron paints Don Juan's father, Don Jóse, as perpetually unguarded and prone to missteps, making it easy for his wife, Donna Inez, to retaliate with spirited vengeance. The metaphor of a lady's fan transforming into a falchion, a type of sword, cleverly highlights how women can wield surprising power in subtle ways, especially when they feel wronged. Byron's tongue-in-cheek commentary suggests the folly in pairing educated women with men who tire of intellectual dialogue, hinting at the broader societal tendency to underestimate women's strength and intelligence. This satirical observation underscores Byron's wit and his playful challenge to traditional gender roles, revealing the domestic power dynamics where women unexpectedly take charge."