# Professor Porter — Tarzan of the Apes character guide

> Professor Porter in Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Professor Archimedes Q. Porter, Porter, Professor

**First appearance:** 0014-xiii-his-own-kind

## Snapshot

An absent-minded archaeologist chasing a legendary treasure, he is stranded in Africa with his daughter Jane and treats mortal danger as a minor interruption to his theories.

## Who they are

Professor Archimedes Q. Porter is a white-haired academic so absorbed in scholarly debate that he barely notices the cannibals, lions, and mutineers surrounding him. His obsession with the treasure that brought them to Africa blinds him to practical dangers, yet his gentle eccentricity and devotion to Jane soften what could be mere comic relief. He represents the civilized mind utterly out of its element, and his presence forces Jane to be the practical anchor of the stranded party.

## Relationships

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan)

_social_

Professor Porter meets Tarzan as a mysterious jungle man and is initially bewildered by him, later grateful for his help.

### [John Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/john_clayton)

_social_

John Clayton and Professor Porter are acquaintances through the expedition, with Clayton showing respect for the professor's learning.

### [Robert Canler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/robert_canler)

_social_

Professor Porter is indebted to Robert Canler for financial support, but is uneasy about Canler's pursuit of Jane.

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan)

_social_

Professor Porter meets Tarzan as a mysterious jungle man and is initially bewildered by him, later grateful for his help.

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan)

_social_

Professor Porter meets Tarzan as a mysterious jungle man and is initially bewildered by him, later grateful for his help.

### [John Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/john_clayton)

_social_

John Clayton and Professor Porter are acquaintances through the expedition, with Clayton showing respect for the professor's learning.

### [John Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/john_clayton)

_social_

John Clayton and Professor Porter are acquaintances through the expedition, with Clayton showing respect for the professor's learning.

### [Robert Canler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/robert_canler)

_social_

Professor Porter is indebted to Robert Canler for financial support, but is uneasy about Canler's pursuit of Jane.

### [Robert Canler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/robert_canler)

_social_

Professor Porter is indebted to Robert Canler for financial support, but is uneasy about Canler's pursuit of Jane.

## In the story

### [Most Remarkable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xvi-most-remarkable)

Lost on the beach, arguing with Philander about the Moors; flees from a lion and is rescued by Tarzan; later shows a moment of human warmth with Philander.

### [Burials](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xvii-burials)

Worries about the lost treasure and wanders off into the jungle.

### [XVIII: The Jungle Toll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xviii-the-jungle-toll)

Wanders the jungle with Mr. Philander; joins the search for Jane.

### [The Village of Torture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxi-the-village-of-torture)

Part of the search party; present during the ambush and subsequent fighting.

### [XXII: The Search Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxii-the-search-party)

Reunites with Jane, overcome with emotion; his grief and love for his daughter are highlighted.

### [Lost Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxiv-lost-treasure)

Resigned to the loss of the treasure chest; participates in the debate about the forest man.

### [The Giant Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxvii-the-giant-again)

Discusses Jane's marriage with Canler, agrees to support Canler's suit, and prepares to move to Wisconsin.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxviii-conclusion)

Reunited with Jane, receives the letter of credit from Tarzan for the recovered treasure, and is relieved of his debt to Canler.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/professor_porter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters