Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Journey to the Center of the Earth, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Science and Discovery
Maturity and Independence
Intuition vs. Evidence
Nature vs. Civilization
Adventure
Summary
Analysis
When Axel awakes the next morning, he muses that he no longer thinks of the trivial things above the earth’s surface, like trees, houses, or the sun. He and his companions have become “fossils” with no interest in “terrestrial superfluities.”
The story continues to examine the psychological effects of spending so much time underground. The most pronounced effect is the feeling of isolation from the rest of the world. Axel’s description of “superfluities” dismissively portrays the surface world as trivial compared to what the men are discovering. Combined with his description of himself and his companions as “fossils,” Axel suggests that the world above the surface is new and fleeting, while the world underground is ancient.
Themes
The men have breakfast, and Lidenbrock calculates that they are 16 leagues below the earth’s surface. Axel is surprised. He exclaims that according to the science of the earth’s crust, the earth at this depth should be in a state of fusion that reaches 1,500 degrees Celsius. Though the thermometer only reads 27.6 degrees, Axel still believes in the standard theory of the earth’s burning core. Instead of voicing this thought, Axel points out that it has taken them 20 days to travel 16 leagues. At this pace, they will reach their destination in five and a half years. Lidenbrock denounces Axel’s calculations and insists that they will succeed because they are following Saknussemm’s precedent.
The men’s detailed discussion of logistics and mathematics emphasizes the importance of keeping track of data during a scientific experiment, as well as the difficulty of such an ambitious adventure. Axel and Lidenbrock’s disagreement also, as usual, is built around how the men interpret data and which data they prioritize. Axel cites a mathematical reason the journey will take five years, while Lidenbrock counters with anecdotal evidence.
Themes
Axel sees that Lidenbrock is on the verge of losing his temper, so he remains quiet. Lidenbrock brings up the increasing pressure as the men descend, and Axel dutifully agrees with his uncle’s hypothesis that they will feel lighter as they air becomes heavier. Axel knows there is no use arguing with Lidenbrock, since the professor will simply site Saknussemm. Axel grants Saknussemm’s precedent no value because the 16th-century alchemist had no tools to confirm that he had in fact reached the center of the earth. Still, Axel refuses to contradict Lidenbrock. He envies Hans, who goes “blindly wherever destiny [leads] him” without fearing the consequences.
Axel is developing independence as he assesses the validity of Lidenbrock’s arguments and the evidence they are based on. However, he’s still unable to directly challenge Lidenbrock about significant decisions. Axel envies Hans’s lack of concern with evidence and consequence, which allow him to trust destiny.
Themes
