STUDY AIDS : CHARACTERS

Krempe

Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Ingolstadt whose instruction Victor Frankenstein resists.

Krempe, discovering Frankenstein's fondness for alchemists in their first interview, bursts out contemptuously, "Have you really spent your time in studying such nonsense?" (I:2:9). Frankenstein relates his impression of his new teacher:

M. Krempe was a little squat man, with a gruff voice and repulsive countenance; the teacher, therefore, did not prepossess me in favour of his doctrine. (I:2:12)

Later, though, when Frankenstein begins to apply himself to his studies, he admits, "I found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense and real information, combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy and manners, but not on that account the less valuable" (I:3:1).