# Professor Stangerson — The Mystery of the Yellow Room character guide > Professor Stangerson in The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Monsieur Stangerson, Stangerson, the illustrious Stangerson **First appearance:** 0001-the-mystery-of-the-yellow-room ## Snapshot A celebrated scientist so absorbed in his work on the dissociation of matter that he nearly loses his daughter to a murderer. ## Who they are Professor Stangerson is the illustrious man of science whose treatise keeps the household at the Glandier past the usual season, and whose absorption in his work leaves his daughter vulnerable. He works late in the laboratory, hears the cry of 'Murder!' from the adjoining room, and is the first to break down the door — only to find a locked room with no exit and his daughter near death. His despair is total, his authority as a father and scientist undercut by the fact that the crime happened under his own roof, in a room he helped design. He represents the limits of rational inquiry: a man who can dissociate matter but cannot explain how a murderer vanished from a sealed chamber. ## Relationships ### [Joseph Rouletabille](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/characters/joseph_rouletabille) _professional_ Rouletabille collaborates with Professor Stangerson to solve the mystery, respecting his scientific authority. ### [Mademoiselle Stangerson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/characters/mademoiselle_stangerson) _family_ Professor Stangerson is Mademoiselle Stangerson's devoted father, deeply concerned for her safety. ### [Mademoiselle Stangerson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/characters/mademoiselle_stangerson) _family_ Professor Stangerson is Mademoiselle Stangerson's devoted father, deeply concerned for her safety. ### [Joseph Rouletabille](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/characters/joseph_rouletabille) _professional_ Rouletabille collaborates with Professor Stangerson to solve the mystery, respecting his scientific authority. ### [Joseph Rouletabille](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/characters/joseph_rouletabille) _professional_ Rouletabille collaborates with Professor Stangerson to solve the mystery, respecting his scientific authority. ## In the story ### [In Which We Begin Not to Understand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/i-in-which-we-begin-not-to-understand) The eminent scientist whose daughter was attacked; he was working in the laboratory at the time of the crime. ### [In the Bosom of Wild Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/iv-in-the-bosom-of-wild-nature) Described as a Frenchman of American origin, a celebrated scientist who returned from America with a fortune and dedicated himself to pure science; he bought the Glandier estate and lives there with his daughter. ### [VIII: The Examining Magistrate Questions Mademoiselle Stangerson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/viii-the-examining-magistrate-questions-mademoiselle-stangerson) Present during the interrogation, provides additional details about the day's events. ### [In Which Frédéric Larsan Explains How the Murderer Was Able to Get Out of The Yellow Room](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/xi-in-which-fr-d-ric-larsan-explains-how-the-murderer-was-able-to-get-out-of-the-yellow-room) Swears solemnly that he never left the door and does not know the murderer; reveals his daughter kept the key. ### [XIII: “The Presbytery Has Lost Nothing of Its Charm, nor the Garden Its Brightness”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/xiii-the-presbytery-has-lost-nothing-of-its-charm-nor-the-garden-its-brightness) Present at the Élysée reception with his daughter; later allows Larsan to stay at the château to investigate. ### [XV: The Trap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/xv-the-trap) Awakened by Daddy Jacques; positioned in the gallery for the trap. ### [Strange Phenomenon of the Dissociation of Matter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/xvi-strange-phenomenon-of-the-dissociation-of-matter) Present at the intersection during the pursuit. ### [The Inexplicable Gallery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/xvii-the-inexplicable-gallery) Kisses his daughter passionately, insists on staying in her apartments, and shows signs of losing his composure. ### [An Act of Mademoiselle Stangerson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/xx-an-act-of-mademoiselle-stangerson) Dines with his daughter in the drawing-room; unknowingly receives a doctored drink from her. ### [Rouletabille Knows the Two Halves of the Murderer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/xxiv-rouletabille-knows-the-two-halves-of-the-murderer) Found in a dazed state after the attack; his precious papers are returned but he is consumed by grief. ### [XXVI: In Which Joseph Rouletabille Is Awaited with Impatience](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/xxvi-in-which-joseph-rouletabille-is-awaited-with-impatience) Gives evidence but leaves the court without shaking Darzac's hand, appearing much older and almost unrecognisable. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/characters/professor_stangerson - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/characters