# Robert Holt — The Beetle character guide > Robert Holt in The Beetle by Richard Marsh. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Holt, Holt, hysterical Mr. Holt **First appearance:** 0000-book-i-the-house-with-the-open-window ## Snapshot A destitute clerk who crawls through a window seeking shelter and is seized by the Beetle, becoming the first witness to its power. ## Who they are Robert Holt is a starving, out-of-work clerk whose desperate entry into an empty house makes him the Beetle's first victim and instrument. Broken in body and mind, he is found dying in a workhouse bed, able only to gasp that 'the beetle killed me' and that it is now going to kill Miss Lindon. His ravings provide the investigation with its first concrete clues, and his degradation shows how completely the entity can consume an ordinary man. ## Relationships ### [Sydney Atherton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/sydney_atherton) _psychological_ Robert Holt, after being victimized by the Beetle, becomes a tool used against Sydney Atherton, creating a tense and manipulative dynamic. ### [The Beetle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/the_beetle) _psychological_ Robert Holt is utterly dominated and controlled by the Beetle through hypnosis and terror, becoming a helpless victim. ### [Marjorie Lindon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/marjorie_lindon) _social_ Marjorie Lindon briefly interacts with Robert Holt, who is under the Beetle's control and poses a threat to her. ### [Sydney Atherton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/sydney_atherton) _psychological_ Robert Holt, after being victimized by the Beetle, becomes a tool used against Sydney Atherton, creating a tense and manipulative dynamic. ### [The Beetle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/the_beetle) _psychological_ Robert Holt is utterly dominated and controlled by the Beetle through hypnosis and terror, becoming a helpless victim. ### [Sydney Atherton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/sydney_atherton) _psychological_ Robert Holt, after being victimized by the Beetle, becomes a tool used against Sydney Atherton, creating a tense and manipulative dynamic. ### [The Beetle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/the_beetle) _psychological_ Robert Holt is utterly dominated and controlled by the Beetle through hypnosis and terror, becoming a helpless victim. ### [Marjorie Lindon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/marjorie_lindon) _social_ Marjorie Lindon briefly interacts with Robert Holt, who is under the Beetle's control and poses a threat to her. ## In the story ### [Book I: The House with the Open Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/book-i-the-house-with-the-open-window) The protagonist of this chapter, a destitute clerk who enters the house and is subjugated by the Beetle. ### [Outside](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/i-outside) Protagonist of the chapter; a desperate, starving man turned away from the casual ward and wandering the streets. ### [Inside](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/ii-inside) Protagonist experiencing extreme fear and helplessness as he is invaded by a mysterious creature. ### [III: The Man in the Bed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/iii-the-man-in-the-bed) Holt is the protagonist of this chapter, a down-on-his-luck clerk who breaks into the house and is subjected to the creature's hypnotic control. ### [A Lonely Vigil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/iv-a-lonely-vigil) Narrator of the chapter, lying paralyzed and conscious throughout the ordeal. ### [An Instruction to Commit Burglary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/v-an-instruction-to-commit-burglary) Holt is completely under the Beetle's hypnotic control, forced to obey commands to commit burglary against his will. ### [VI: A Singular Felony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/vi-a-singular-felony) Narrator and victim; compelled by an unseen force to commit burglary, experiencing dual consciousness and physical suffering. ### [VII: The Great Paul Lessingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/vii-the-great-paul-lessingham) Under the Beetle's possession, Holt confronts Paul Lessingham, speaking in a voice not his own and uttering 'the beetle' to terrorize him. ### [The Man in the Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/viii-the-man-in-the-street) Narrates his frantic escape from the Beetle's lair, falling from the portico and being briefly stopped by a stranger. ### [IX: The Contents of the Packet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/ix-the-contents-of-the-packet) Forced to return to the Beetle's room, he surrenders the packet of letters and witnesses the Beetle's rage. ### [Book II: The Haunted Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/book-ii-the-haunted-man) Subject of Atherton's account; his encounter with the beetle and subsequent fate. ### [A Midnight Episode](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xi-a-midnight-episode) Implied to be the fleeing man; described as nearly naked, mud-covered, and with a terrified expression, escaping from Lessingham's window. ### [The Terror in the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxi-the-terror-in-the-night) Referenced as the man Marjorie found in a fit, who spoke the name 'Paul Lessingham' in a strange voice. ### [XXV: The Man in the Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxv-the-man-in-the-street) Implied to be the stranger found in the street, though not explicitly named in this chapter. ### [XXVII: The Terror by Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxvii-the-terror-by-night) Lying in a trance-like state; upon Marjorie's entrance, he sits up and cries out 'Paul Lessingham! Beware! The Beetle!' before relapsing into insensibility. ### [XXVIII: The Strange Story of the Man in the Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxviii-the-strange-story-of-the-man-in-the-street) The man Marjorie found in the street; he recounts his harrowing experience of being forced by a supernatural creature to burgle Paul Lessingham's house. ### [XXIX: The House on the Road from the Workhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxix-the-house-on-the-road-from-the-workhouse) Emaciated and weak, still under the Beetle's influence, unable to move freely, identifies the house and becomes increasingly agitated. ### [XXX: The Singular Behaviour of Mr. Holt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxx-the-singular-behaviour-of-mr-holt) Displays convulsive and trance-like behavior, claims to hear a call from 'the Lord of the Beetle,' and walks away from the house. ### [XXXI: The Terror by Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxxi-the-terror-by-day) Holt is mentioned as the source of the strange story that Sydney is investigating; Marjorie dismisses him as weak-minded and hysterical. ### [What the Tidings Were](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xxxvi-what-the-tidings-were) Mentioned as the man who was hypnotized and led Atherton to the Fulham house, then disappeared. ### [XL: What Miss Coleman Saw Through the Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xl-what-miss-coleman-saw-through-the-window) Mentioned as the young man who left the house first, walking stiffly and quickly. ### [XLI: The Constable—His Clue—and the Cab](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xli-the-constable-his-clue-and-the-cab) Hypnotized by the Beetle and sent away; his old clothes were used to disguise Marjorie. ### [XLIV: The Man Who Was Murdered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xliv-the-man-who-was-murdered) Found barely alive, emaciated and near death; dies after revealing the beetle attacked him and that Marjorie is in danger. ### [XLV: All That Mrs. ’Enderson Knew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xlv-all-that-mrs-enderson-knew) Found dead behind the bed in the room rented by the Arab; his body is the subject of Mrs. Henderson's testimony. ### [The Sudden Stopping](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xlvi-the-sudden-stopping) The young tramp accompanying the Beetle, described as ill and of disreputable appearance. ### [XLVIII: The Conclusion of the Matter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/chapters/xlviii-the-conclusion-of-the-matter) Died of exhaustion; buried in Kensal Green Cemetery under a handsome tombstone; his story was compiled from statements he made to Atherton and Miss Lindon. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters/robert_holt - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beetle_se/characters