For most of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Aronnax successfully ignores the fact that Captain Nemo is a violent, unstable man who has taken him captive, choosing to focus instead on the positives (such as access to marine life and new technologies). Despite Aronnax’s excited narratorial tone, the mood of the novel is somewhat unsettling and ominous. This is because Verne makes sure that readers do not forget that Aronnax, Ned, and Conseil are being held against their wills.
For example, from the time that they are taken prisoners, Ned is scheming about how they can escape. When Aronnax refuses to escape with Ned in Part 1, Chapter 14, the juxtaposition of Aronnax’s glee and Ned’s frustration combines to form a tense and unsettling mood:
“I cannot answer you, Mr. Land; it is better to abandon for a time all idea of seizing the Nautilus or escaping from it. This ship is a masterpiece of modern industry, and I should be sorry not to have seen it. Many people would accept the situation forced upon us, if only to move amongst such wonders. So be quiet and let us try and see what passes around us.”
“See!” exclaimed the harpooner, “but we can see nothing in this iron prison! We are walking—we are sailing—blindly.”
Ned’s clarity that they are trapped on an “iron prison” and sailing “blindly” effectively nudges readers away from Aronnax’s joy and toward concern for the men.
Ultimately, after Captain Nemo destroys a ship full of people in Part 2, Chapter 22, killing them all in the process, Aronnax does come to realize Captain Nemo’s true violent nature. Here the mood of the novel moves more fully into fear and frenzy:
I felt an insurmountable horror for Captain Nemo. Whatever he had suffered at the hands of these men, he had no right to punish thus. He had made me, if not an accomplice, at least a witness of his vengeance.
In addition to these charged moments that create a tense atmosphere, there are scenes and interactions that exist for comedic relief, leading to a lighthearted mood. These moments primarily center on Conseil’s almost hyperbolic adoration of Aronnax, leading him to dramatically declare at several points that he would give his life to save his “master.” Conseil and Ned also have a caring friendship that adds levity to otherwise dramatic and intense adventuring.
For most of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Aronnax successfully ignores the fact that Captain Nemo is a violent, unstable man who has taken him captive, choosing to focus instead on the positives (such as access to marine life and new technologies). Despite Aronnax’s excited narratorial tone, the mood of the novel is somewhat unsettling and ominous. This is because Verne makes sure that readers do not forget that Aronnax, Ned, and Conseil are being held against their wills.
For example, from the time that they are taken prisoners, Ned is scheming about how they can escape. When Aronnax refuses to escape with Ned in Part 1, Chapter 14, the juxtaposition of Aronnax’s glee and Ned’s frustration combines to form a tense and unsettling mood:
“I cannot answer you, Mr. Land; it is better to abandon for a time all idea of seizing the Nautilus or escaping from it. This ship is a masterpiece of modern industry, and I should be sorry not to have seen it. Many people would accept the situation forced upon us, if only to move amongst such wonders. So be quiet and let us try and see what passes around us.”
“See!” exclaimed the harpooner, “but we can see nothing in this iron prison! We are walking—we are sailing—blindly.”
Ned’s clarity that they are trapped on an “iron prison” and sailing “blindly” effectively nudges readers away from Aronnax’s joy and toward concern for the men.
Ultimately, after Captain Nemo destroys a ship full of people in Part 2, Chapter 22, killing them all in the process, Aronnax does come to realize Captain Nemo’s true violent nature. Here the mood of the novel moves more fully into fear and frenzy:
I felt an insurmountable horror for Captain Nemo. Whatever he had suffered at the hands of these men, he had no right to punish thus. He had made me, if not an accomplice, at least a witness of his vengeance.
In addition to these charged moments that create a tense atmosphere, there are scenes and interactions that exist for comedic relief, leading to a lighthearted mood. These moments primarily center on Conseil’s almost hyperbolic adoration of Aronnax, leading him to dramatically declare at several points that he would give his life to save his “master.” Conseil and Ned also have a caring friendship that adds levity to otherwise dramatic and intense adventuring.
