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
The next morning, Arronax hopes that Ned will have changed his mind about fleeing, but is disappointed to hear that Ned will not give up. Arronax checks the submarine’s direction and realizes that it is hurtling away from Europe at a profound speed. Before long, it becomes clear that any window of opportunity they had for escape has closed. When Arronax informs Ned of this fact, he is furious, but Arronax himself is rather relieved. That night, Nemo suggests that they explore the ocean floor at night for the first time, and Arronax enthusiastically agrees.
It is understandable why Ned feels betrayed by Arronax concluding that they cannot escape, particularly considering that Arronax is secretly relieved about this. Perhaps Ned sense Arronax’s relief, which intensifies his resentment.
Themes
Walking out in the darkness with Nemo, Arronax half-expects to encounter a subterranean city. They walk through a thick forest, only emerging on the other side after two hours. Arronax wonders where he is, but—due to their helmets—cannot ask Nemo. Instead, he just grabs the captain’s arm. Suddenly, Arronax realizes that the mountain towering in front of them is a “semi-active volcano.” The area is covered with beautiful architectural ruins, and in the distance, he finds the outline of an Acropolis. It occurs to him that he is in Atlantis. Arronax desperately endeavors to remember everything he can see, but notices that Nemo has is curiously still. On Nemo’s gesture, they race back to the Nautilus.
The myth of Atlantis began with Ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who described it as an island whose navy attacked Athens. After being defeated by Athens, Atlantis sank to the bottom of the sea. Following this original story, there have been many subsequent versions of myths about cities at the bottom of the sea. In the 19th century, given the relatively new possibility of deep-sea exploration, some people mistakenly assumed that such myths were real.
Themes
