Around the World in 80 Days

Introduction

Jules Verne, a well-known French novelist, wrote the adventure book Around the World in Eighty Days, first published in 1873. It relates the tale of Londoner Phileas Fogg, who wagers with the members of his club that he can go around the world by land and water in less than eighty days. One of Verne's most well-known books is this one.

Verne bought a ship in the middle of his literary career and started sailing the British Isles and Mediterranean; many of his exploits in these areas served as the basis for Around the World in Eighty Days. He got the concept for the book from reading an article at a caf� in Paris that claimed a guy could go around the globe in eighty days. The novel's plot concept originated from his curiosity about how the unavoidable crossing of the International Date Line would affect whether the traveler gained or lost a day.

The concept of circumnavigating the globe in a certain length of time was well-liked, and previous authors had written about it before, all the way back to the Greek traveler Pausanias, who published "Around the World" in the year 100 AD. Additionally, in 1699, an Italian traveler by the name of Gemelli Careri published a book titled Voyage Around the World that provided incredibly thorough descriptions of non-European civilizations.

Thomas Cook embarked on a seven-month tour across the world in 1872, which he chronicled in a number of letters. This occurred exactly one year before the publication of Verne's novel and probably had some bearing. There have been several film adaptations of Around the World in Eighty Days, with the 1956 version being particularly well-known. This was followed by Disney's rendition in 2004, which dramatically changed the story's plot. The book has also been adapted for the stage, screen, and radio.

Summary of Around the World in 80 Days

A rich resident of London and member of the Reform Club, a prestigious social club, is Mr. Phileas Fogg. He just recruited Passepartout, a Frenchman, as a new housekeeper. He places a wager with the other club members at the Reform Club that he can travel the length of the world by train and steamship in under eighty days. He grabs Passepartout, and they immediately set out to traverse the world since 20,000 pounds are on the line.

A detective named Fix is waiting for Fogg at the Suez Canal, where he will board a ship to Bombay, India; reportedly, Fogg has been charged with stealing the Bank of England. He rides with Passepartout and Fogg aboard the steamship Mongolia to India in the hopes of obtaining a warrant to detain Fogg for the robbery.

The arrest warrant had not yet arrived when the boat landed in Bombay two days early. Passepartout walks into a Hindu temple as they wait for the train that will transport them across India from Bombay to Calcutta in an effort to soak in some of the local sites before they have to leave again. He enters without realizing that it is banned for Christians to do so, and he also wears shoes inside, which is also against the rules. He barely avoids the monks' anger and arrives at the railway station in time.

Fogg and Passepartout encounter Sir Francis Cromarty, an Englishman who resides in India, on the train. Passepartout spends a lot of time staring out the window into the inhospitable Indian forests. The train abruptly stops, however, since a 50-mile stretch of the track is reportedly still under construction. As a result, passengers must organize their own transportation to the next location, where they may board a train once more. Fogg buys an elephant from an Indian guy in a nearby hamlet and employs a Parsee guide to lead them.

Sir Francis is now a part of the gang, and they go out on an elephant. After spending a night camping, they come across a group of tribal Indians who are getting ready to sacrifice a young woman whose husband, a prince, just passed away. After many unsuccessful attempts, Passepartout disguises himself as the deceased prince's body and manages to leap up and seize Aouda before they can put her on the funeral pyre. Fogg thinks they should try to save her with the extra time they have now.

They arrive in Calcutta but are detained as soon as they do. They initially believe that it is because of what occurred with Aouda, but Fix really had them imprisoned because Passepartout violated the law in Bombay by going into the Hindu temple. They are bailed out by Fogg with a sizable quantity of money, and they board the boat bound for Hong Kong. Fix continues to pursue them because he is aware that Hong Kong will be the last portion of British soil they enter, giving him one more opportunity to apprehend Fogg.

Even though a storm prevents them from getting to Hong Kong, it's a blessing that the steamer to Yokohama, Japan, won't leave until the next evening since it requires time for repairs. Passepartout has to be on Fix's side, so he brings him to a pub and reveals to him who his true boss is. However, Passepartout is always dependable and does not think Fogg is the thief. Fix administers Passepartout opium in an effort to keep Fogg in Hong Kong until he can arrest him. As a result, Passepartout is rendered incapacitated for an extended period of time and is unable to inform his master of the information, which is that the steamer will depart from Yokohama in the morning rather than the evening as originally planned.

Fogg discovers Passepartout is missing the following morning and that the steamboat has left without them. To get them to Shanghai, where they may board the boat that would go to San Francisco before stopping in Yokohama, he employs a sailor. Since it seems the family member, she knew in Hong Kong moved away, Aouda is with him. Fix follows them, pretending to be a buddy. They are delayed by a storm and arrive in Shanghai as the steamboat is leaving the harbor.

Even though he was lost, Passepartout was able to board the boat to Yokohama. When he realizes he has left his master behind, he becomes upset. He tries to join a traveling circus group in Yokohama in order to earn money to purchase food for himself, but Fogg discovers him while he is doing this. In Shanghai, they were able to flag down the vessel and board it. Fix joins the gang as they board the boat bound for San Francisco. Slowly but surely, Aouda is becoming more and more devoted to Fogg.

They arrive in San Francisco and board the train that will carry them to New York, but not before seeing a political scuffle in which Fogg nearly engages Colonel Stamp Proctor of America. They are traveling by rail across the vast American wilderness when they hit a bridge that cannot support the weight of the train, which causes a delay. However, they choose to accelerate the train across the bridge, and as soon as they do, it falls.

Later on in the journey, a Sioux Indian tribe assaults the train, posing a more serious threat. When they arrive at a military outpost, the troops drive the Native Americans away, but not before kidnapping Passepartout and a few other rail passengers. Fogg pursues him with an army of men, promising them a prize in exchange for their assistance. He takes time to return, and when he does, Aouda and Fix stay behind to wait while the train departs without them. He eventually returns with Passepartout secure. They travel a sled (a sleigh) over the icy plains to the next train station in order to meet the train.

The ship to Liverpool, England, had left 45 minutes earlier due to the numerous delays, but they arrived in New York via rail. In a desperate attempt to fulfill his wager, Fogg pays the owner of a cargo ship to transport them to Bordeaux, but once they are on board, Fogg bribes the crew, ties up the captain, and steers the ship in the direction of Liverpool.

The issue is that at this pace, they will never have enough fuel to reach there; Fogg offers to pay the captain a significant sum of money to buy the ship so that he may disassemble it and burn pieces of it to maintain their speed. They manage to burn enough fuel to reach Queenstown, Ireland, where they take a train to Dublin and mail boats to Liverpool to expedite their journey. But as soon as they enter English territory, Fix detains Fogg and accuses him of stealing the Bank of England. Fogg's chances of getting to London in time to win his wager suddenly appear to be slim to none.

However, Fix soon discovers that the genuine bank robber had been detained three days earlier. Panicked, he rushes to release Fogg and instructs him to travel to London as soon as possible. The fastest way for Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout to reach the British capital is by taking an express train. However, they are a few minutes late and do not make it to the London station in time.

After losing his bet, Fogg is unsure of what to do and spends a considerable amount of time alone in his room. But when Aouda approaches him and confesses her love for him, Fogg declares that he will give anything to become her husband. They are overjoyed and instruct Passepartout to contact the minister to set up the wedding for the following day, Monday.

However, upon there, Passepartout learns from him that the next day is actually Sunday since they crossed the International Date Line and gained a day. In order for Fogg to win his wager, he would have to return to London on that day, which would have been a Saturday. Rushing to the Reform Club, Fogg makes it there just in time to win the wager and recover his money. However, he thinks that the fact that he met Aouda was the best part of the journey.

Characters from Around the World in 80 Days

Frank Fogg

The main character in Around the World in 80 Days is Phileas Fogg. His effort to go across the globe in 80 days is described in the tale. He is a strangely rich Englishman with a penchant for gambling which is seen as a self-assured, motivating type of guy. He is a risk-taker and a guy of unbridled confidence if he is ready to try the feat of traveling around the world in 80 days.

Passepartout

The trustworthy and consistently funny French valet of Mr. Fogg, a trustworthy but unintentionally tiresome travel companion. He is a bold and kind man, yet he frequently appears to make Fogg's plan to journey around the globe in 80 days more difficult. Despite being completely funny, he is quite adorable.

Investigator Fix

A significant English bank is looted as Fogg sets off on his adventure. Detective Fix is led to assume that the perpetrator is none other than Phileas Fogg, who only wanted to get away from the police and never meant to travel around the world in 80 days. He hopes to capture Fogg so that he may share in the looted funds as a reward.

Aouda

Indian princess who was compelled at an early age to wed a Rajah. When the Rajah passes away, strange Hindus try to intimidate her into giving up her life. Fogg and his team save her, though, before they force her to carry out their plan. She travels back to England with Fogg's crew after being unable to locate her distant cousin from Hong Kong.

The Reform Club Participants

Wealthy London men who are all members of the Reform Club, to which Fogg belongs, think it is crazy for Fogg to attempt to round the globe in 80 days. But the thought of inheriting Fogg's money excites them.

Francis Cromarty, Sr.

A resident of India who is English. He meets up with Fogg and his group on the train from Bombay to Calcutta, and they ride an elephant between the two train stations with him. He assists with Aouda's rescue and is quite knowledgeable about the area and its customs.

The Parsee Handbook

To lead their elephant between the two train stations in central India, Fogg employs a Parsee guide. At the destination, Fogg gives him the elephant as payment for his advice.

Mr. Bunsby

A Hong Kong-based English seaman. Hire him to take Fogg and his group as quickly as possible to Shanghai so they may board the boat to Yokohama.

Lengthy Noses

Passepartout briefly joins the group of acrobatic dancers in Yokohama in an effort to earn some money for food.

Stamp Proctor, Col.

A fellow American with whom Fogg almost gets into a physical altercation in San Francisco and challenges to a duel on the train to New York. Proctor embodies the group's idealized image of an American guy because he is rough and uncompromising.

Camerfield, Mr.

One of the political candidates present at the San Francisco event breaks out in a fight.

Mandiboy, Mr.

One of the political candidates present at the San Francisco event breaks out in a fight.

William Hitch, the Elder

A Mormon was traveling across America by rail from Utah. Passepartout listens to his sermon on Mormonism in one of the railway coaches until he concludes that he has heard enough.

Mudge

The sled driver transports the gang to Omaha from the army fort so they may board the train.

Captain Swift

Fogg, the captain of the commercial vessel, locks him up and turns the vessel in the direction of Liverpool. He first shows some rudeness by declining to assist them, but he later caves in when Fogg offers him money in return for his ship.

Themes

Time

This book's most significant subject is time. Fogg's wager is a race against time, and his escapades frequently show that time is erratic and may either be helpful or harmful to people. Time frequently frustrates their intentions when delays mount, and ships and trains depart without them.

But in the end, as they gained a day after crossing the International Date Line, time turns out to be what gives Fogg his bet. The underlying theme is that time cannot be controlled; it will proceed in its own manner, with mankind being at its mercy.

Imperialism

This work, which was written in the 19th century during the height of British colonialism, is replete with references to imperialism and the effect of the West on the world. Because so many of the areas Fogg travels through are British-controlled, Fix is able to pursue Fogg for such a considerable amount of time.

The impacts of colonization are clearly seen in places like India and Hong Kong, where English influence may be seen mixed in with native cultures and practices. The idea of one nation controlling the whole planet now would sound absurd, yet back then, it was seen as the standard.

Relationships

Fogg had a reclusive existence before setting off on his globe tour. He kept his distance from others and didn't give a damn about how others saw him. By the conclusion of the journey, he does, however, understand the value of interpersonal relationships, both romantic ones with Aouda and friendship and loyalty with Passepartout. The most valuable thing he has taken away from this journey is, above all, this new appreciation and understanding.

Perseverance

Fogg keeps moving forward in spite of various challenges until he decides to give up on his plan to go around the world in 80 days. As he works to complete the task at hand, he maintains his composure, coolness, and composure at all times. However, Fogg is not the only figure to show tenacious persistence.

Despite his mistaken objectives, Detective Fix nonetheless persists in trying to do what he thinks is right: detain Fogg for allegedly robbing a bank. Both the protagonist and the adversary show tremendous determination despite having different objectives.

Honor

Although he has the chance to quadruple his wealth, Fogg's reason for going on such a foolish trip is not primarily financial. Instead, he wants to uphold his honor and demonstrate to the members of the Reform Club that he is worthy of their respect by accomplishing the goals he sets for himself. Fogg spends almost all of his money on his travels, demonstrating that wealth is not what he is really after. Honor is more important to Phileas Fogg than wealth.

Problem-Solving

Throughout the entire journey, Fogg and his crew run against a number of roadblocks. Through these obstacles, they are able to demonstrate that no difficulty is insurmountable by using their rapid thinking to find creative solutions to even the most challenging issues. Not just Fogg but Passepartout also demonstrates his inventiveness in solving problems by saving Aouda and halting the train during the Sioux attack, among other instances.

Morality

It is common for readers to neglect to consider the morality of some of the choices Fogg makes in order to accomplish his objective when they are engrossed in the fast-paced excitement of the adventure. The most noteworthy instance of this is when, after leaving New York, he ties up the captain of the trading vessel in order to direct the ship in the direction he desires.

Fogg is able to escape this tight circumstance without suffering consequences because he has money. This does not, however, excuse the act's original depravity. Is it OK to use immoral measures to achieve a goal, or should Fogg have attempted to make moral choices along the way?

Symbols, Allegory, and Motifs from Around the World in 80 Days

The Watch of Passepartout (Symbol)

Passepartout's watch and the fact that he left it in London time are frequently brought up by the characters in the book. The watch serves as a continual reminder that they are always at the mercy of time, symbolizing the significance of time on their voyage. This specific sign also portends the conclusion of the narrative, in which the passage of time mysteriously enables Fogg to prevail in the wager.

The Warrant for Arrest

The telegraph warrant for Fogg's arrest becomes a symbol of tenacity and duty fulfillment as Detective Fix becomes more and more frantic. Regardless of his own feelings for Fogg, Fix is a devoted person who will complete the task at hand. This arrest warrant is the result of a challenging task for him.

(Motif) British Colonialism

Fogg and his crew frequently encounter remnants of the British Empire during their travels. In far-off locales like India and Hong Kong, as well as in some parts of Yokohama, Japan, they encounter colonial architecture. This pattern demonstrates how significant the British Empire was at the time this book was written.

Elephant symbol: Kiouni

Fogg and his gang travel from place to place using a variety of modes of transportation during the course of the 80 days that this book covers. Kiouni the elephant, though, is by far the most trustworthy. They frequently have problems with the railroads and ships manufactured by humans, but an elephant is a natural object that never fails. Comparing the dependability of the natural environment to artificial means of change, this elephant serves as a metaphor.

The Symbol for The Reform Clubhouse

The Reform Clubhouse is a representation of the affluent London society that Passepartout and Fogg are leaving behind as they go out on their expedition. Things get wilder and more unexpected as they leave the clubhouse and encounter the outside world.

The Irony of "Around the World in 80 Days"

(Dramatic Irony) Detective Fix

While on his journey, Phileas Fogg has no idea that Detective Fix is pursuing him throughout the globe in an effort to apprehend him for stealing a bank; this is a major instance of dramatic irony. Ironically, Passepartout finally learns the same thing, but Fogg is still in the dark.

The Early Arrival (Ironic Situation)

Every detail of Fogg's journey across the world has been carefully planned. He is incredibly well-organized and ready for anything that may arise. It is, therefore, incredibly hilarious that he was unaware that they would gain a day traveling eastward and that he was unaware that they would arrive early when they returned to London.

Suspicions of Passepartout (Dramatic Irony)

Passepartout realizes in the course of the tour that Detective Fix is actually a Reform Club member who has been assigned to track Fogg's travels across the globe to determine whether he successfully accomplishes the assignment. Since readers are aware that this is untrue and that Fix is actually a detective on the prowl for Passepartout's boss, this is also an example of dramatic irony.

New Job for Passepartout (Dramatic Irony)

It is ironic that Passepartout's life will be anything but tranquil as he serves Fogg and is forced to embark on a crazy journey around the world; he says he has come to work for Fogg "in the hope of living with him a tranquil life" (pg. 3), early in the novel after he has just been introduced.

Images from Around the World in 80 Days

India

Verne offers a few paragraphs of vivid imagery portraying the wonderful spectacle as it unfolds in front of them as the company travels the Indian countryside, first by rail and then by an elephant. Elephants were still "haunted by the forests around them, which, with pensive eyes, gazed at the train as it passed," the author writes (p. 34). The stark contrast between India and the sophisticated European metropolis that the company is used to is brought out by this photograph.

Frank Fogg

This book's opening chapter spends a lot of time detailing Phileas Fogg's attributes, particularly his looks. One sentence reads, "Phileas Fogg was seated squarely in his armchair, his feet close together like those of a grenadier on parade, his hands resting on his knees, his body straight, his head erect" (pp. 3). Readers may get an excellent idea of Fogg's polished, appropriate look from these descriptions, which all contribute to the idea of him being a stoic and restrained guy.

Singapore

On the boat from Calcutta to Hong Kong, the company only makes a brief stop in Singapore, yet Verne provides a paragraph of vivid imagery depicting the island. Examples of this are sentences like "A handsome carriage, drawn by a sleek pair of New Holland horses, carried Phileas Fogg and Aouda into the midst of rows of palms with brilliant foliage, and of clove-trees, whereof the cloves form the heart of a half-open flower" (pp. 62).

America

Passepartout is awestruck by the huge terrain as the train hurtles through the American wilderness on its way from San Francisco to New York, and Verne provides passages full of vivid imagery to depict what he sees. The phrase "On the right rose the lower spurs of the mountainous mass which extends southward to the sources of the Arkansas River, one of the great tributaries of Missouri" (pp. 113) is a particularly fine illustration of this.