Introduction to 'Around the World in Eighty Days'

TL;DR

You're about to explore Jules Verne's classic adventure, Around the World in Eighty Days, which follows Phileas Fogg and his servant Passepartout on a thrilling race against time. The story combines travel, suspense, and the technological marvels of the 19th century. You'll learn about the main characters, the plot, and the key themes that make this novel enduring.

1. The Mental Model

Imagine a stiff English gentleman who bets he can travel the entire globe in just 80 days, using only the innovations of his era. He sets off with his new, somewhat bewildered, French valet, facing unexpected challenges and a persistent detective all along the way.

2. The Core Material

Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days (published in French as Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours) is an adventure novel that captivates with its blend of meticulous detail, daring escapades, and a race against the clock.

The Plot's Core

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The story begins in London in October 1872. Phileas Fogg, an eccentric and wealthy English gentleman of precise habits, is a member of the Reform Club. During a discussion about a recent newspaper article claiming that a new railway in India makes it possible to travel around the world in 80 days, Fogg bets his fellow club members £20,000 that he can do it. He immediately sets off, taking his newly hired French valet, Jean Passepartout, by surprise.

Their journey is planned meticulously, taking advantage of new steamships and railways, but it's fraught with challenges: missed connections, unexpected detours, and the constant suspicion of Detective Fix, who believes Fogg is a bank robber fleeing justice.

Key Characters

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• Phileas Fogg: The stoic, enigmatic protagonist. He's incredibly precise, methodical, and rarely shows emotion. His commitment to the wager drives the entire plot.
• Jean Passepartout: Fogg's loyal, but often clumsy, French valet. He's the emotional heart of the story, often providing comic relief and getting into trouble, which sometimes helps and sometimes hinders their progress.
• Detective Fix: A detective from Scotland Yard who mistakenly believes Fogg is a thief who robbed the Bank of England. He follows Fogg throughout the journey, constantly trying to delay him until he can get a warrant for his arrest.
• Aouda: An Indian princess Fogg and Passepartout rescue from a forced sacrifice (sati). She becomes an integral part of their traveling party, and a love interest for Fogg.

Themes and Context

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The novel explores themes of punctuality, adventure, globalization, and the impact of technology on society. Verne was fascinated by progress and used his stories to showcase the possibilities, and sometimes the dangers, of new inventions. He meticulously researched the travel routes and technologies of his time, making the journey feel incredibly real.

Here's a look at the journey's main stages:

graph TD
    A["Fogg's Wager (London)"] --> B["London to Suez (Train, Steamer)"]
    B --> C["Suez to Bombay (Steamer)"]
    C --> D["Bombay to Calcutta (Train, Elephant)"]
    D --> E["Calcutta to Hong Kong (Steamer)"]
    E --> F["Hong Kong to Yokohama (Steamer)"]
    F --> G["Yokohama to San Francisco (Steamer)"]
    G --> H["San Francisco to New York (Train, Sled)"]
    H --> I["New York to Dublin (Steamer)"]
    I --> J["Dublin to London (Train)"]
    J --> K["Return to Reform Club (Success/Failure)"]

3. Worked Example

Let's look at one pivotal moment: the rescue of Aouda.

While traveling from Bombay to Calcutta by train, Fogg, Passepartout, and Fix (who is tailing them) discover that the railway line isn't finished. They're forced to find alternative transport across a 50-mile gap. Fogg, ever practical, buys an elephant to continue. During this detour, Passepartout spots a group preparing for an act of sati – the ritualistic sacrifice of a widow on her husband's funeral pyre. Touched by the woman's beauty and her apparent drugged state, Passepartout convinces Fogg to intervene.

Fogg, initially reluctant to deviate from his schedule, agrees to the rescue. They cleverly use Passepartout's skills and the cover of night to snatch the princess, Aouda, from the ceremony. This daring act isn't just a thrilling adventure; it highlights Fogg's underlying morality, which briefly overrides his obsession with timing. It also introduces a key character who profoundly changes Fogg's journey and, eventually, his life. The time lost in the rescue is calculated, planned for, and ultimately recovered, showing Fogg's incredible ability to adapt.

4. Key Takeaways

• The novel is a race against time, driven by a £20,000 wager.
• Phileas Fogg is a precisely-timed English gentleman, while Passepartout is his more emotive and comical valet.
• Detective Fix wrongly pursues Fogg, believing him to be a bank robber, adding significant challenges.
• Aouda's rescue is a key event that shows Fogg's hidden compassion and introduces romance.
• Verne uses the story to showcase 19th-century technological advancements in travel.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Don't assume the journey is smooth; there are constant obstacles.
- Don't forget the significant role of Detective Fix in complicating the trip.
- It's not just about geography; it's about character development, especially for Fogg.
- Don't overlook the scientific and technological details Verne weaves into the narrative.

5. Now Try It

Read the first two chapters of Around the World in Eighty Days. As you read, make a mental note of Phileas Fogg's habits and routines described in Chapter 1. Then, consider how Passepartout's first day working for Fogg (in Chapter 2) immediately challenges or fits into those routines. What does this contrast tell you about their personalities and how they might interact throughout the journey?

Success looks like: You can describe Fogg's almost robotic precision, Passepartout's more human and less rigid approach, and identify one instance from Chapter 2 where their personalities clash or complement each other.