The play centers on the elaborate and deceptive efforts of Harry Horner to seduce married women by feigning impotence. Horner orchestrates a social ruse, spreading rumors of his physical incapacity to gain unrestricted access to the wives of London's elite. Opposing him are the jealous husbands and the social conventions of the Restoration era, which demand strict adherence to appearances. The narrative unfolds through a series of farcical encounters and witty exchanges that expose the hypocrisy of the upper class. The play utilizes a traditional dramatic structure, relying on rapid-fire dialogue and situational irony to drive the plot forward.

Discussion often centers on the play's biting critique of Restoration morality and its unapologetic depiction of sexual politics. Readers frequently highlight the complexity of the protagonist's scheme, noting how it serves as a mirror for the era's obsession with reputation. Critics often examine the balance between the play's farcical elements and its darker, more cynical undertones regarding human nature. The work remains a subject of study for its linguistic dexterity and its role in defining the comedy of manners genre. Scholars and students alike find the text's exploration of social artifice to be a significant contribution to English dramatic history.