The Imperial Discourse and Roger’s Tragic Death in “Aloewood Incense: Second Burning”

Abstract

Some scholars hold that Roger’s death in “Aloewood Incense: Second Burning” (1943) was caused by the repulsion from his colleagues and students, this paper, however, maintains that the imperial discourse regarding sexuality and the grand design of colonialism deprived Roger of a sense of belonging in Hong Kong and marginalised him, leaving him with nothing but alienation within the diasporic community and no choice but death. Chang’s exposure of the devastating effect of imperial discourse on its expatriates denounced the superiority of the western culture, indicating her sharp vision as an intellectual.