20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne Book Analysis Example

In the classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne, Pierre Aronnax, along with his two companions, Ned Land, and Conseil, go on a stunning underwater adventure on Captain Nemo’s vessel, the Nautilus.  During this ten-month adventure, the Nautilus covers 20,000 leagues or 60,000 nautical miles.  During the mission, Aronnax tried to understand the complex character of the greatest villain ever created, Captain Nemo. Nemo vividly displays a very deep hate for man, along with respect for God, the creator, and also a strong desire for revenge against humanity, throughout his quest for revenge.  

Many occasions showed Nemo’s very deep hate for man.  One occasion is when the Nautilus is in the Tuamotu Archipelago, an Archipelago that consists solely of coral islands.  Aronnax states that the slow-growing coral will eventually create a new continent.  Captain Nemo responds coldly by saying, “It isn’t new continents the earth needs, but new men.”  Another occasion is when Captain Nemo explains to Aronnax that he has broken all his ties with men and land and now lives independently.  A final occasion is when one of Nemo’s men is wounded, dies, and is buried in an underwater coral cemetery.  Aronnax concludes that this man’s body will be beyond the reach of sharks.  Nemo gravely replies, “beyond the reach of sharks and men.”  Nemo certainly did not conceal his hatred for mankind.

Throughout this book, Nemo’s respect for God the Creator was shown. The first example of this occurs when he explains to Aronnax that all the food he finds under the sea is sown by the Creator’s hand.  The second example of this is shown one morning when Captain Nemo is explaining to Aronnax how he believes that the ocean is alive, and has a circulation.  Then he tells Aronnax about the simplicity of the Creator setting it into motion.  The third example of this happens when Aronnax is trying to escape the Nautilus with Ned Land and Conseil.  During the breakout, Monsieur Aronaax sneaks pest Nemo, who is in the lounge playing the organ, and just as he gets to the door, Nemo cries out, open quote Almighty God! Enough! Enough! end quote Nemo doubtlessly respected God as the Creator.

Captain Nemo unquestionably had respect for the Creator, although it is apparent that he didn’t trust in God’s providence due to the fact that he sought revenge against man.  One circumstance is when Aronnax, along with Ned Land and Conseil are asked to go to the prison for the night.  They obey, and in the morning wake up in their cabins.  Aronnax goes to the lounge to chill, and Nemo asks him to heal one of his men.  After Aronnax examined the man, he concluded that he was fatally injured.  The book never directly discloses it but between having to be locked up, the wounded man, and Captain Nemo’s vague explanation that it was due to a crash, it is egregious that this event was the result of one of Nemo’s revenge slaughters.  A second circumstance is when Nemo declares he will sink a ship that has opened fire.  In this circumstance, not only Nemo but all the men on the Nautilus’ platform are “looking with implacable hatred at the ship bearing down upon them.”  One last example is when Nemo puts his barbaric words into ironhearted actions and sinks the ship.  No matter what caused them, Nemo’s revenge plans were unjust, and a result of a lack of faith in God.  In other words the root of all evil.

Overall, I think that 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea  was a phenomenal book with an exceptional storyline.  I think the book had good characters with unique personalities.  It had exciting twists and breathtaking surprises.  The book revealed enough to keep the reader engaged but not too much as to disclose the story.  On the negative side of things, I found the storyline slightly difficult to follow at times and thought that Aronnax’s lists of fish, zoophytes, and mollusks, classified into phyla, divisions, classes, subclasses, orders, families, genera, subgenera, species, and varieties, along with color, possibly texture, level of edibility, tastiness, and/or some other fun fact was extremely dry reading and absolutely miserable.  That being said I think both boys and girls would enjoy this book equally, as a good knowledgeable book.