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Masculinity In Jules Verne's Novel 20, 000 Leagues Under The Sea

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“I am not what you call a civilized man!” (Verne 50). This quote is spoken by Captain Nemo, he is the commander of the mysterious underwater vessel known as The Nautilus in the novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Nemo plays an important role in the story by affecting the setting. Since he is the captain of the ship he decides the locations it travels to, and his mood can be unpredictable at times. Because of this, the setting greatly affects the characters, plot and theme of this novel making it an instant classic. Verne is known for his creation of marvelous characters who are adaptable and intelligent. In the Prairie Schooner, a paper written by the University of Nebraska, Skloot writes, “In Jules Verne 's world, Latourell Falls would be …show more content…

Jules Verne includes many themes in his book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. One major theme is masculinity, or qualities traditionally associated among men. “The captain fell on the earth, upset by the enormous mass which leaned upon him. The shark 's jaws opened wide, like a pair of factory shears, and it would have been all over with the captain; but, quick as a thought, harpoon in hand, Ned Land rushed toward the shark and struck it with its sharp point” (Verne 156). Masculinity is shown here because bravery is a trait commonly associated with men, and Ned Land had to be brave to help save Captain Nemo from the wide open jaws of the carnivorous shark. Another theme is love; this love is not necessarily a romantic love, but a generic love for someone or something because they or it is cared for. “‘And he rests now, near his companions, in the coral cemetery? ' ‘Yes, forgotten by all else, but not by us. We dug the grave, and the polypi undertake to seal our dead for eternity.’ And, burying his face quickly in his hands, he tried to suppress a sob. Then he added: ‘Our peaceful cemetery is there, some hundred feet below the surface of the waves’” (Verne 135). Captain Nemo obviously shows some sort of love and care for the crew member he buried based off of his interaction with M. Aronnax. Irony also comes into play as is shown in this example. Captain Nemo built The Nautilus and set out on this voyage to escape mankind because of his hatred for them, but here he shows love and compassion for a human

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