Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Scientific Discovery and Technological Innovation
Freedom vs. Constraint
Human Intelligence and its Limits
Exploration, Imperialism, and Conquest
Nature vs. Civilization
Summary
Analysis
Arronax, Ned, and Conseil discuss their situation. They have now been “prisoners hand and foot” for six months, and there is no indication that this will change. They’ve noticed that Captain Nemo has become increasingly antisocial, and they wonder what it means. Observing the fauna around him, Arronax wonders how he can give up the research opportunities life on the Nautilus has afforded him. When they reach the Bahamas, Arronax points out that the caves before them tend to hide gigantic poulps (giant squid). Ned is skeptical that such things exist, but Conseil argues that he has personally witnessed a poulp take down an entire ship.
It is striking that, even after almost dying so many times (the last of which was highly traumatic), Arronax still remains unsure about whether he is willing to give up the research opportunities provided by life on the Nautilus. Depending on one’s perspective, his commitment to science appears admirably diehard—or totally insane.
Themes
Ned is incredulous, but Conseil insists it’s true. However, he then reveals that he saw the scene was depicted in a painting he saw in a church. Arronax explains that the painting depicts a scene from a myth. He says that myths about giant squids aren’t true, but that there must be some kind of truth that inspires them. While they continue to discuss the myths, Ned alerts them to a giant squid that can be seen from the window. The three men rush to look at it, and Arronax is stunned to realize that the monster seems to have been angered by the presence of the submarine.
Despite their dire circumstances, Ned, Conseil, and Arronax remain playful and humorous. Much of the novel is concerned with myths that turn out to be true—from the lost city of Atlantis to the giant squids. This gives the narrative a fantastical feel, though the heavy presence of scientific detail and technology pushes it into the emergent genre of science fiction.
Themes
Other poulps then appear, swimming in a kind of “procession” behind the Nautilus. Arronax sees Nemo, who looks more dejected than ever. Nemo calmly remarks that a battle is incoming, because one of the poulps has the submarine in its grip. Ned offers to use harpoon the creatures, and Arronax accepts this proposal. At that moment, a sailor shouts for help, but it is too late—he is already in the grip of one of the poulp’s tentacles. Nemo and Ned immediately begin hacking at the monster’s arms. Having successfully harpooned the poulp in its eye, Ned is grabbed by its tentacles himself. Nemo hacks at the poulp’s mouth, freeing Ned. Yet while Ned is saved, Nemo is overcome with tears at the loss of the first sailor.
At first, Nemo’s calm demeanor appeared to be a sign of his extraordinary character and leadership skills. However, now it seems as if he is actually so detached simply because he is depressed. Nemo’s courage in the face of death may actually be an indifference to death—or even a desire for it.
Themes
Literary Devices
