Around the World in Eighty days – Jules Verne

In France and throughout most of Europe, Jules Verne is regarded as a significant writer. He is also credited with having a significant impact on the literary avant-garde and surrealism in those regions. His reputation was very different in the Anglosphere, where he was frequently categorised as a writer of children’s books or works of genre fiction. This was primarily attributable to the fact that his novels are frequently printed in translations that are highly abridged and changed from the original versions. Since the 1980s, he has been steadily improving his literary reputation. 

Since 1979, Agatha Christie and William Shakespeare have been surpassed by Jules Verne in terms of the number of times their works have been translated into other languages.

It has been said of him that he is the “father of science fiction,” a title that has also been applied to H. G. Wells and Hugo Gernsback at various times. In the 2010s, he was the French novelist who was translated into more languages than any other author in the world. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the author’s passing, the year 2005 was commemorated throughout France as “Jules Verne Year.” 

Short Summary

The events of the tale start off in England. Fogg, a highly methodical individual who attends the Reform Club nightly on a consistent basis, is presented to the audience. During one of these trips to the club to play cards, he strikes up a conversation with some of the other people there about whether or not it is possible to travel all the way around the world in eighty days. He is confident that it is, and he has accepted the challenge to finish the voyage. This marks the beginning of the story’s overall plot, and from this point on, we follow Fogg as he embarks on his journey around the world and observe the incredible experiences he shares with his travelling companions. The adventures that Fogg has throughout the story form the primary storyline, whereas the secondary plots are only there to support the primary idea. Fix, the detective, pursues Fogg everywhere he goes. He is under the impression that Fogg is the thief who has stolen a significant amount of money from the Bank of England. He deliberately places roadblocks in Fogg’s way so that he may take him into custody as soon as the arrest warrant arrives from England. The possibility that Mr. Fogg is actually a cunning gentleman thief is a subtheme of the book, and the author encourages the reader to entertain the possibility themselves. Even though he has a lot of faith in Fogg’s honesty, Passepartout sometimes wonders if his master might be a thief. However, in his heart, he knows that Fogg is trustworthy.

The story continues with Fogg attempting to make his way to London in time despite facing several challenges along the way. After seeing Brindisi, Suez, Bombay, and Calcutta, he continued on to Hong Kong, Yokohama, San Francisco, New York, and eventually Liverpool. Fix decides to capture Fogg in Liverpool, which causes our hero to be delayed. He believes that he has missed the deadline and that he has not arrived in London on time, but in truth, he arrived in London a whole day sooner than expected. Therefore, Fogg prevails in the wager, and in the course of his travels, he also finds himself a bride who is deserving, charming, and attractive. 

Themes 

Challenge

The subject matter of the book “Around the World in Eighty Days” might provide insight into the central idea of the work of fiction being read. Phileas Fogg, a guy known for his strictness and discipline, asserts that it is possible to travel around the world in a span of eighty days. He is given the responsibility of performing this feat on his own. Therefore, the primary concern is whether or not it is realistic to round the globe in a span of eighty days. Despite the overwhelming odds, Fogg is able to demonstrate that it is indeed doable. 

Love

The romance between Fogg and Aouda is not the primary focus of the book, but it is what makes the story of the journey so compelling. Aouda is a princess from India, and the fact that she is a part of the plot gives it an exotic flavour. The friendship that Fogg shares with her contributes to his development as a person. She brings a great deal of enjoyment into his life, and the story places a certain degree of significance on their relationship. 

Mood

The atmosphere of the book is one of exhilaration and the sort of daring exploration that is synonymous with the word “travel.” Phileas Fogg decides to take on the challenge of travelling around the world in a period of eighty days. Along the way, he visits many different countries and participates in a wide variety of exciting adventures. As a consequence, the plot moves quickly from one event to the next, and there is consistently some suspense generated by the numerous interactions.

The idea that Fogg might be the gentleman robber and responsible for a significant heist at the Bank of England lends an air of mystique to the situation, adding a touch of suspense to the atmosphere. Fix reveals to Passepartout that his master is not who he seems to be, and despite the fact that Passepartout has a tendency to trust Fogg, there is a sense of tension that Fogg could very well be the one who committed the crime. 

Main Cast

• David Niven as Phileas Fogg
• Cantinflas as Passepartout
• Shirley MacLaine as Princess Aouda
• Robert Newton as Inspector Fix 

Conclusion

The narrative follows two travellers who eventually form a trio and finally a quartet as they attempt to overcome a variety of challenges on their trip back to their starting point. Phileas Fogg, who is aiming to win a bet that he made with the Reform Club that he can travel around the world in 80 days, and the other members of the Reform Club make up the bulk of the cast.