The Beetle · Character

Mr. Lindon

Marjorie's gout-ridden, blustering father, obsessed with the Lindon name and determined to keep Paul Lessingham away from his daughter.

supporting

Also known as Lindon, Old Lindon, old Lindon, Papa, papa

First appearance: book i the house with the open window

As a supporting figure in The Beetle, Mr. Lindon is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Expresses anger and disapproval upon seeing Marjorie with Lessingham, calling Lessingham a 'confounded adventurer' and threatening to confront him.

In the storyXV: Mr. Lessingham SpeaksOpen this moment free

See Mr. Lindon in XV: Mr. Lessingham Speaks Book page

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Mr. Lindon is a wealthy, short-tempered patriarch who worships Lord Cantilever, detests Lessingham's politics, and forbids Marjorie to speak to the man she loves. His rages are comic and exhausting, full of repeated commands and self-important references to the greatness of the Lindons, but they also reveal a father who cannot see past his own side of any question. His opposition raises the social stakes of Marjorie's choice and makes her defiance a matter of principle as much as passion.

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See Mr. Lindon in book i the house with the open window

Character Web

11 connections

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Relationship types

Social
Family
Psychological
Other

Character groups

Central cast of characters
Protagonist
Minor supporting figures

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it presents the psychological peak of the protagonist’s confess…

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Relationships

Paul Lessingham
social · positive
Marjorie Lindon
family · positive
The Beetle
psychological · negative
Sydney Atherton
social · ambivalent
The Beetle
psychological · negative
Paul Lessingham
social · positive
Marjorie Lindon
family · positive
Marjorie Lindon
family · positive
Paul Lessingham
social · positive
Sydney Atherton
social · ambivalent
The Beetle
psychological · negative
Sydney Atherton
social · ambivalent

Paul Lessingham
Mr. Lindon is the father of Marjorie and approves of Paul Lessingham as her fiancé, maintaining a cordial but formal relationship.
Marjorie Lindon
Marjorie Lindon is the daughter of Mr. Lindon, and they share a protective, affectionate father-daughter bond.
The Beetle
Mr. Lindon is horrified and manipulated by the Beetle, who invades his home and threatens his family.
Sydney Atherton
Mr. Lindon knows Sydney Atherton as a family friend and rival suitor to his daughter, maintaining polite but wary relations.
The Beetle
Mr. Lindon is horrified and manipulated by the Beetle, who invades his home and threatens his family.
Paul Lessingham
Mr. Lindon is the father of Marjorie and approves of Paul Lessingham as her fiancé, maintaining a cordial but formal relationship.
Marjorie Lindon
Marjorie Lindon is the daughter of Mr. Lindon, and they share a protective, affectionate father-daughter bond.
Marjorie Lindon
Marjorie Lindon is the daughter of Mr. Lindon, and they share a protective, affectionate father-daughter bond.
Paul Lessingham
Mr. Lindon is the father of Marjorie and approves of Paul Lessingham as her fiancé, maintaining a cordial but formal relationship.
Sydney Atherton
Mr. Lindon knows Sydney Atherton as a family friend and rival suitor to his daughter, maintaining polite but wary relations.
The Beetle
Mr. Lindon is horrified and manipulated by the Beetle, who invades his home and threatens his family.
Sydney Atherton
Mr. Lindon knows Sydney Atherton as a family friend and rival suitor to his daughter, maintaining polite but wary relations.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mr. Lindon in book i the house with the open window

In the story

Mr. Lindon appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XV: Mr. Lessingham Speaks
Expresses anger and disapproval upon seeing Marjorie with Lessingham, calling Lessingham a 'confounded adventurer' and threatening to confront him.
XIX: The Lady Rages
Arrives in a cab just as Dora leaves, signaling a new development.
A Heavy Father
Visits Atherton in a state of high excitement, perspiring and ranting about Lessingham. He hides behind a screen when Marjorie arrives.
The Terror in the Night
Revealed to have been hiding behind a screen, eavesdropping on Marjorie and Atherton's conversation.
The Haunted Man
Mentioned as having given Lessingham the cut discourteous on the steps.
XXIII: The Way He Told Her
Marjorie's father, a Tory who disapproves of Paul Lessingham's politics and of women speaking in public.
XXIV: A Woman’s View
Marjorie's father; hostile to Paul Lessingham, prone to explosive temper, and suspicious of their relationship.
XXV: The Man in the Street
Marjorie's father; he is late for breakfast and believes he has gout, unaware of the incident.
A Father’s No
Marjorie's father; forbids her from seeing Paul Lessingham and loses his temper violently.
XXVIII: The Strange Story of the Man in the Street
Marjorie's father; he was hidden behind a screen listening to her story to Sydney, which causes Marjorie to feel betrayed.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mr. Lindon unlock in the free preview.

See Mr. Lindon in book i the house with the open window

See Mr. Lindon in XV: Mr. Lessingham Speaks