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
By January 29, the Nautilus has covered a distance of 16,220 miles, or 7,500 leagues. As they travel into the Persian Gulf, Arronax wonders where Nemo is leading them. He discusses this question with Ned, who remains miserable about their seemingly never-ending voyage. In the first few days of February, they journey across the Sea of Oman, at one point coming close to the city of Muscat. Arronax gazes at the mosques and houses along its skyline, fascinated. However, before long the Nautilus sinks back under the water. On February 7, the vessel enters the Straits of Bab-el-mandeb, which means “the gate of tears” in Arabic. They cross it in less than an hour, arriving in the Red Sea.
One of the more curious aspects of the novel is the extent to which it is merely descriptive. Much of the book is devoted to describing the route of the Nautilus or the wildlife Arronax encounters on the way. This is another way in which the novel was strongly influenced by science. Its descriptive technique is rather scientific in nature, even if what is being described is imagined—a good example of the fusing of science and fiction.
Themes
Arronax once again finds himself dazzled by the natural world lying outside the Nautilus’s windows. Nemo asks if Arronax is appreciating the journey through the Red Sea, and Arronax replies in the affirmative. The two men comment on how much better it is to travel on a submarine rather than a boat, particularly through water known to be especially rough and dangerous. Nemo reflects that it may take a hundred years before there is another submarine like the Nautilus, because technological progress can be slow. Arronax agrees, saying it’s a shame that the Nautilus will remain a secret. They then discuss the origins of the Red Sea’s name.
This passage encourages the reader to question the purpose of technology. Arronax and Nemo agree that the Nautilus is remarkable and that it is a shame that there isn’t another vessel like it. At the same time, Nemo doesn’t seem too troubled by the idea of keeping the technology he uses secret. To him, the point of technology does not seem to be that it can be replicated and shared by many—rather, he places importance on technology because it enables him to isolate himself from society, explore the undersea world he loves, and continue developing his personal knowledge base.
Themes
Literary Devices
Arronax asks if, on his journeys, Nemo has ever encountered evidence of the Biblical story of Moses parting the Red Sea. Nemo says he hasn’t, because the area where this event is supposed to have taken place is a desert, and thus the Nautilus has no way of going there. They discuss the Suez Canal, which is in the process of being constructed, and its historical antecedents. They toast to the canal’s developer, the French statesman Ferdinand de Lesseps. Nemo says that while it is unfortunate that they won’t see the canal, in another few days they will be in the Mediterranean. Arronax is shocked, and Nemo explains that they will be travelling through a secret subterranean channel connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
Nemo has developed a vast historical and geographic knowledge. Yet the same question brought up by the last passage is also worth asking here—what value is this knowledge if there is no one (or in this case, only one person) with whom to share it? It is hard to imagine Nemo being satisfied with accruing so much information and holding onto it by himself, yet at the same time, his hatred of humanity is so intense that maybe this is indeed better for him than engaging in conversation.
Themes
