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
The compass’s constant movement, excited by electricity, seemingly confirms Axel’s fear of an earthquake that will crush the raft and its passengers. Lidenbrock counters that the forthcoming phenomenon is not an earthquake but a volcanic eruption. Axel is horrified by this, but Lidenbrock points out that erupting from a volcano is the men’s only chance of reaching the surface. Axel acknowledges the truth in this, and he finds that he is curious despite himself. He begins to wonder what volcano they are in.
Axel retains his anxiety and practicality, but he has also started to take after Lidenbrock in his desire for knowledge. His curiosity about being part of a volcanic eruption overcomes his fear, and he starts to see a dangerous situation as an opportunity to learn.
Themes
The temperature continues to rise. Fire appears along the chimney walls, which Lidenbrock identifies as sulphureous flames. He shows Axel that they are no longer riding on water, but volcanic fluid. The ascent stops briefly, then begins again, shooting the raft up the chimney even faster than before. The ascent makes several of these pauses, and Lidenbrock notes that they are in an “intermittent volcano.” After hours of these stops and starts, Axel’s perception grows vague. He describes “continuous detonation” in a hurricane of fire. As he loses consciousness, Hans moves over him.
Much of the narrative highlights the logistics of undertaking an expedition, emphasizing that exciting, cinematic moments are greatly outnumbered by small moments of stress and irritation. The stopping and starting of the volcano is another instance of this, interrupting the book’s climax for the sake of scientific accuracy.
Themes
