A (33:13)
Mr. Crumpy was a little squat man with a gruff voice and a repulsive countenance. The teacher therefore did not prepossess me in favor of his pursuits in rather a too philosophical and connected a strain. Perhaps I have given an account of the conclusions I had come to concerning them. In my early years as a child I had not been content with the results promised by the modern professors of natural science with a confusion of ideas only to be accounted for by my extreme youth and my want of a guide on such matters. I had retrod the steps of knowledge along the paths of time and exchanged the discoveries of recent inquirers for the dreams of forgotten alchemists. Besides, I had a contempt for the uses of modern natural philosophy. It was very different when the masters of the science sought immortality and power. Such views, although futile, were grand. But now the scene was changed. The ambition of the inquirer seemed to limit itself to the annihilation of those visions on which my interest in science was chiefly founded. I was required to exchange chimeras of boundless grandeur for realities of little worth. So he's reiterating that he was drawn to the old natural philosophers because they had grand goals like immortality. And power. The new natural philosophers don't have those grand ambitions, so he's not interested in interest in them. Such were my reflections during the first two or three days of my residence at Ingolstadt, which were chiefly spent in becoming acquainted with the localities and the principal residence in my new abode. But as the ensuing week commenced, I thought of the information which Mr. Crumpy had given me concerning the lectures. And although I could not consent to go and hear that little conceited fellow deliver sentences out of a pulpit, I recollected what he had said of Mr. Waldman, whom I had never seen, as he had hitherto been out of town. Partly from curiosity and partly from idleness, I went into the lecturing room, which Mr. Waldman entered shortly after. This professor was very unlike his colleague. He appeared about 50 years of age, but with an aspect expressive of the greatest benevolence. A few gray hairs covered his temples, but those at the back of his head were nearly black. His person was short but remarkably erect, and his voice was the sweetest I had ever heard. He began his lecture by a recapitulation of the history of chemistry and the various improvements made by different men of learning. Pronouncing with fervor the names of the most distinguished discoverers, he then took a cursory view of the present state of the science and explained many of its elementary terms. After having made a few preparatory experiments, he concluded with a pangiric upon modern chemistry. So pangiric is a speech in praise of something, the terms of which I shall never forget. The ancient teachers of this science said. He promised impossibilities and performed nothing. The modern masters promise very little. They know that metals cannot be transmuted and that the elixir of life is a chimera. But these philosophers, whose hands seem only made to dabble in dirt and their eyes to pore over the microscope or crucible, have indeed performed miracles. They penetrate into the recesses of nature and show how she works in her hiding places. They ascend into the heavens. They have discovered how the blood circulates and the nature of the air we breathe. They have acquired new and almost unlimited powers. They can command the thunders of heaven, mimic the earthquake, and even mock the invisible world with its own shadows. Meaning modern scientists aren't trying to find the elixir of life, but they are almost more powerful because they are figuring out the very fiber of the world and seeing how everything works. Such were the professor's words. Rather, let me say such the words of the fate announced to destroy me. As he went on, I felt as if my soul were grappling with a palpable enemy. One by one, the various keys were touched which formed the mechanism of my being. Chord after chord was sounded, and soon my mind was filled with one thought, one conception, one purpose. So much had been done. Exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein, meaning his soul because he is Victor Frankenstein. More, far more, will I achieve. Treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation. I closed not my eyes that night. My internal being was in a state of insurrection and turmoil. I felt that order would thence arise, but I had no power to produce it by degrees. After the morning's dawn came sleep. I awoke, and my yesternight's thoughts were as a dream. There only remained a resolution to return to my ancient studies and to devote myself to a science for which I believed myself to possess a natural talent. So he's going to go back to the study of natural philosophy, but with a new angle. On the same day, I paid Mr. Waldman a visit. His manners in private were even more mild and attractive than in public, for there was a certain dignity in his mien is like his way of carrying himself during his lecture, which in his own house was replaced by the greatest affability and kindness. I gave him pretty nearly the same account of my former pursuits as I had given to his fellow professor. He heard with attention the little narration concerning my studies and smiled at the names of Cornelius, Agrippa, and Paracelsus, but without the contempt that Mr. Crimpy had exhibited. He said that these were men to whose indefatigable zeal modern philosophers were indebted for most of the foundations of their knowledge. They had left to us, as an easier task to give new names and arrange in connected classifications the facts which they in a great degree had been the instruments of bringing to light. The labors of men of genius, however erroneously directed, scarcely ever fail in ultimately turning to the solid advantage of mankind. So he's saying that the old philosophers were wrong, but they paved the way for the new philosophers and scientists and were therefore necessary. I listened to his statement, which was delivered without any presumption or affectation, and then added that his lecture had removed my prejudices against modern chemists. I express myself in measured terms with the modesty and deference due from a youth to his instructor, without letting escape. Inexperience in life would have made me ashamed. Any of the enthusiasm which stimulated my intended labours, I requested his advice concerning the books I ought to procure. I am happy, said Mr. Waldman, to have gained a disciple. And if your application equals your ability, I have no doubt of your success. Chemistry is that branch of natural philosophy in which the greatest improvements have been made and may be made. It is on that account that I have made it. My peculiar study particular not strange, but at the same time I have not neglected the other branches of science. A man would make but a very sorry chemist if he attended to that department of Human knowledge alone. If your wish is to become really a man of science and not merely a petty experimentalist, I should advise you to apply to every branch of natural philosophy, including mathematics. He then took me into his laboratory and explained to me the uses of his various machines, instructing me as to what I ought to procure, and promising me the use of his own, when I should have advanced far enough in the science not to derange their mechanism. He also gave me the list of books which I had requested, and I took my leave. Thus ended a day memorable to me. It decided my future destiny. Chapter four. From this day, natural philosophy, and particularly chemistry in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardor those works, so full of genius and discrimination which modern inquirers have written on these subjects. Subjects. I attended the lectures and cultivated the acquaintance of the men of science of the university. And I found even in Mr. Crimpy, a great deal of sound sense and real information combined, it is true, with repulsive physiognomy and manners, but not on that account, the less valuable. In Mr. Waldman I found a true friend. His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism, and his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good nature that banished every idea of pedantry in a thousand ways. He smoothed for me the path of knowledge and made the most abstruse inquiries clear and facile to my apprehension, meaning he made even the most confusing concepts easy to understand. My application was at first fluctuating and uncertain. It gained strength as I proceeded, and soon became so ardent and eager that the stars often disappeared in the light of morning, whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory. As I applied so closely, it may be easily conceived that my progress was rapid. My ardor was indeed the astonishment of the students and my proficiency that of the masters. So the students are shocked by how hard Victor works, and the professors are shocked at how quickly he's learning. Professor Crumpe often asked me with A sly smile. How Cornelius Agrippa went on, whilst Mr. Waldman expressed the most heartfelt exultation in my progress. Two years passed in this manner, during which I paid no visit to Geneva, but was engaged heart and soul in the pursuit of some discoveries which I hoped to make. None but those who have experienced them can conceive of the enticements of science. In other studies you go as far as others have gone before you, and there is nothing more to know. But in a scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery. And wonderful. A mind of moderate capacity which closely pursues one study must infallibly arrive at great proficiency in that study. And I, who continually sought the attainment of one object of pursuit and was solely wrapped up in this, improved so rapidly that at the end of two years I made some discoveries in the improvement of some chemical instruments which procured me great esteem and admiration at the university. So he's doing so well in his studies that he's now actually contributing to the field and gaining accolades. When I had arrived at this point and had become as well acquainted with the theory and practice of natural philosophy as depended on the lessons of any of the professors at Ingolstadt, my residence there being no longer conducive to my improvements, I thought of returning to my friends and my native town when an incident happened that protracted my stay. So he was gonna go home, since he's learned all that he could. But then something happened that kept him there. One of the phenomena which had particularly attracted my attention was the structure of the human frame. And indeed, any animal endued with life. Whence I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed? It was a bold question, and one which has ever been considered as a mystery. Yet with how many things are we upon the brink of becoming acquainted if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries? I resolved these circumstances in my mind and determined thenceforth to apply myself more particularly to those branches of natural philosophy which relate to physiology. So physiology is the study of how living organisms function. Unless I had been animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm, my application to this study would have been irksome and almost intolerable. To examine the causes of life, we must first have recourse to death, meaning, in order to study life, he has to know about death. I became acquainted with the science of anatomy, but this was not sufficient. I must also observe the natural decay and corruption of the human body. In my education, my father had taken the greatest precautions that my mind should be impressed with no supernatural horrors. I do not ever remember to have trembled at a tale of superstition. Or to have feared the apparition of a spirit. Darkness had no effect upon my fancy. And a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life. Which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm. Now I was led to examine the cause and progress of this decay. And forced to spend days and nights in vaults and charnel houses. So he's going to places where he can examine dead bodies and learn about their decomposition. My attention was fixed upon every object. The most insupportable to the delicacy of the human feelings. Meaning he's thinking about things that most people find horrifying. I saw how the fine form of man was degraded and wasted. I beheld the corruption of death succeed to the blooming cheek of life. I saw how the worm inherited the wonders of the eye and brain. I paused, examining and analyzing all the minutiae of causation. As exemplified in the change from life to death and death to life. Until, from the midst of this darkness, a sudden light broke in upon me. A light so brilliant and wondrous, yet so simple. That while I became dizzy with the immensity of the prospect which it illustrated. I was surprised that among so many men of genius who had directed their inquiries towards the same science. That I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret. Remember, I am not recording the vision of a madman. The sun does not more certainly shine in the heavens. Than that which I now affirm is true. Some miracle might have produced it. Yet the stages of the discovery were distinct and probable. After days and nights of incredible labor and fatigue. I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life. Nay, more. I became myself capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter. Okay, so he's figured out how to bring not alive things to life. The astonishment which I had at first experienced on this discovery. Soon gave place to delight and rapture. After so much time spent in painful labor. To arrive at once at the summit of my desires. Was the most gratifying consummation of my toils. But this discovery was so great and overwhelming. That all the steps by which I had been progressively led to it were obliterated. And I beheld only the result. What had been the study and desire of the wisest men. Since the creation of the world was now within my grasp. Not that like a magic scene, it all opened upon me at once. The information I had obtained was of a nature rather to direct my endeavours. So soon as I should point them towards the object of my search Than to exhibit that object already accomplished. I was like the Arabian who had been buried with the dead and found a passage to life. Aided only by one glimmering and seemingly ineffectual light. I see by your eagerness and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend. So remember he's talking to Walton here. That you expect to be informed of.
