The Grotesque Transformation of Political Masculinity and Leadership in Ian Mcewan’s The Cockroach
Öz
This article reads Ian McEwan’s The Cockroach beyond the confines of Brexit satire, analysing it as a structural critique of the collapse of hegemonic masculinity and the rise of a grotesque bio-politics. Synthesizing Critical Masculinity Studies with Julia Kristeva’s theory of the abject, the study argues that the populist leader replaces the protective father metaphor with an instinct-driven tyrant brother regime. Crucially, the article addresses the tension between biological essentialism and social constructionism, demonstrating that the leader’s animalistic metamorphosis is not a biological destiny, but a hyper-real theatrical performance used to legitimize authoritarian power. Furthermore, it examines the construction of a swarm masculinity that systematically liquidates rational-democratic alternatives, symbolized by the purging of Benedict St John, which renders ethical leadership structurally impossible. Ultimately, the article reveals how the state is permanently colonized by a viral, irrational agency, where the crisis of masculinity is resolved not by restoring order, but by celebrating the triumph of the swarm.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Ian McEwan, The Cockroach, Political Masculinity, Abject, Populism
Kaynakça
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