James Abram Reynolds

ENG- Critical Methods

Professor Garofalo
December 13, 2016
Critical EXAM #4

Leslie Allin's Analysis of British Imperialism in The Beetle

Leslie Allin constructs an analysis on the grotesque and masculine vulnerabilities of the

characters in the beetle. Allin constructs how the threats against gender occur, the imperial decay

of masculine British figures, and critically analyzes their failing sense of embodiment and porous

condition. In Allins analysis, the lines between gender and sexuality are blurred in where the

beetle represents a transgender character making both male and female penetrable amidst their

imperial portrayal. The readers realize through Allins analysis, the contextual view of the binary

contradictions when she opens in quoting, In the context of imperial decay, The Beetle

represents both the male body and male imagination as porous entities, rather than solid ones

[Allin, 114]. The literary allusions connote binary existences between male and female that

destroy patriarchal properties within its English context. Allin mentions several times the

Victorian era of male empiricism in a point to criticize its justifications with an ultimate goal to

view its instability. She uses words such as leakiness, and grotesque to define the male body. In

her opening remarks she quotes, This novel critiques justification of patriarchal governance and

imperial legitimacy: which ultimately become leaky, grotesque, and thus profoundly unstable.

[Allin, 114]

For example, Alin critically analyzes the grotesque narratives of Paul Lessingham. In the

nature of his masculinity emerges instability as he expresses difficulty with discernment and

asserting his character. Allin describes his narratives in certain chapters as poking holes in the
truth of his words, such as on page 242 in the chapter of his description about his captivity in

Egypt. Noted are several disruptions in the context of his tale. She emphasizes moments of

uncertainty, and unplanned disruptions of speech such as the statement Paul makes while

struggling to recall his trauma saying, I have hesitated, and still do hesitate, to assert where,

precisely, fiction ended and fact began. (p. 242), [Allin, 125]. As this characters discernment

fails, the condition of his masculine narrative, in Allins critique, is rendered porous, uncertain

and leaky.

In addition, this cultivation of criticism continues in Allins binary approach to viewing

the characteristics of the beetle, and the male and female opposites. Both remain penetrable, and

in much of Allins argument, the sexual ambiguity of the beetle allows this slippage to occur, to

penetrate both genders, becoming its transgender opposite. Allin approaches this twist by first

recognizing Pauls masculinity and ability to enchant his listeners within the narratives. She says

in the writing What he is in fact known for is eloquence. [Allin, 124] This is true, until the

entrance of a foreign threat effects his bodily composure and British male austerity which

ultimately causes the failure of his maleness. She secondly points out the novels insistence for

the reader to imagine simultaneous penetration of both genders. The Englishman is analyzed as

being unstable to safeguard the woman, allowing the grotesque to occur in Marjories character

as she becomes simultaneously a male figure. Allin says, if the beetle and Marjorie can perform

passable masculinity, then not only have women in a sense permeated maleness, but also

maleness becomes uprooted from essential ontological categorization. [Allin, 130]

Furthermore, although the men are rarely seen as evil or diabolical as the beetle can be,

Allin does include to analyze the grotesque antics of Champnell during a scuffle. She makes the

reader aware of the violent competitiveness which underlies moments of grief between the male
characters. While pointing out a scuffle, Allin emphasizes Champnells dry descriptions of grief

during the threat of Marjories death. Allin quotes about this scene of the novel, Champnell to

frame their antics, While they wrangled, I continued to search. [Allin, 127] Champnell is

included in Allins analysis of grotesque narratives as an unstable masculine character who loses

register and the ability to chime in during moments of lament.

In conclusion, Allin constructs several analyses over the binary contradictions of the male

characters within The Beetle. The narratives as critiqued in the essay exemplify grotesque

descriptions which contribute to her analysis of porous and leaky masculine identity of the

British male character. The destruction of male figures such as Paul, simply add evidence to her

analysis of faulty imagination produced by penetration of a foreign threat, needless to say it ends

in the threat of imperial decay. Allins imperial analysis reflects on the Late-Victorian popular

fiction model and how its eventual thrill of eastern existences, circulates a form of violent

fantasy. The presence of an eastern threat further establishes the exoticism in the British role of

characters. Their role changes continue to construct binary contradictions which constantly draw

repulsive and grotesque narratives in the novel as critiqued by Leslie Allin.