Around the World in Eighty Days: Analysis of Major Characters
"Around the World in Eighty Days" is a novel by Jules Verne that follows the adventures of Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman known for his punctuality and methodical lifestyle. The story begins when Fogg wagers that he can travel around the globe in eighty days, a challenge that sets off a series of unexpected events and encounters. Fogg is accompanied by his devoted French servant, Jean Passepartout, who demonstrates courage and resourcefulness throughout the journey, often getting into trouble but also helping to rescue Princess Aouda, with whom Fogg develops a romantic relationship.
The narrative also features Detective Fix, who mistakenly believes Fogg is a bank robber, complicating their travels with his attempts to arrest him. Other significant characters include Sir Francis Cromarty, a British officer who aids Fogg, and Captain Andrew Speedy, whose irascibility and greed create obstacles for the travelers. Aouda, a widow saved from a suttee, becomes a pivotal character as her fate intertwines with Fogg's journey. The exploration of these characters reveals themes of honor, love, and the clash of cultures, all set against the backdrop of a world that Fogg seeks to circumnavigate in record time.
Around the World in Eighty Days: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Jules Verne
First published: Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours, 1873 (English translation, 1873)
Genre: Novel
Locale: A tour of the world
Plot: Adventure
Time: October 2 through December 21, 1872
Phileas Fogg (FIHL-ee-uhs), an English gentleman living in London. A tall, well-built man about forty years old, with light brown hair and a beard, he lives a quiet life of great regularity. Being independently wealthy, he spends most of his day at the Reform Club reading, taking his meals, and playing whist. Apparently having lived a life of travel and adventure some years earlier, he is a man of honor and integrity. Challenged by his whist partners to prove his contention that it is possible to travel around the world in eighty days, he agrees to make the trip in that amount of time and wagers twenty thousand pounds, his entire fortune. Along the way, he delays his journey to rescue Princess Aouda from death and later falls in love with her. Encountering numerous other delays and adversities in completing the trip, he remains imperturbable and loyal to his traveling companions, even when faced at the end with the loss of his remaining fortune.
Jean Passepartout (zhahn pas-par-tew), Fogg's French manservant. A middle-aged man of pleasant and honest appearance, with brown hair and blue eyes, he possesses a portly but muscular build. Prior to serving Fogg, he led a life of travel and uncertainty; as a result, the steady and methodical lifestyle of his new master appealed to him. It is a shock to him when it is announced that they will be traveling around the world out of a carpetbag. During the course of the journey, he shows himself to be brave and resourceful. His impersonation of the dead rajah makes the rescue of Aouda possible. His actions also sometimes cause delays for his master, such as when he is arrested for violating the sanctity of a Hindu temple and when he is captured by the Sioux after he saves a train. Through all these challenges, a relationship of mutual respect and affection develops between him and Fogg.
Fix, a detective. Small, slightly built, and nervous, he is a man of some intelligence. Coming across Fogg at Suez, he decides that Fogg matches the description of the man who recently robbed the Bank of England of fifty-five thousand pounds. He follows Fogg's party to India and then to Hong Kong, seeking to throw various obstacles in their way until arrest warrants arrive. After leaving English territory, he begins to aid the travelers in their passage to England. On arrival at Liverpool, he promptly and mistakenly arrests Fogg, causing a delay that makes it seem that the wager has been lost.
Aouda (ow-ew-duh), the widow of an Indian rajah. This dark-haired, light-complected young Parsee beauty received a thorough English education that rendered her more European than Indian. After her rescue from the suttee, Fogg plans to drop her off with a relative in Hong Kong. Arriving there, it is discovered that her relative had moved to The Netherlands. As a result, she continues to accompany Fogg on his journey, and the two fall in love. When they arrive in London and it appears that Fogg has lost his wager, Aouda proposes marriage. That suggestion reveals the twenty-four-hour miscalculation resulting from crossing the international date line and allows Fogg to win his bet by appearing at the Reform Club in the nick of time.
Sir Francis Cromarty, a British army officer. A tall, fair man of fifty, he is traveling to Benares to join his troops. After becoming acquainted with Fogg through playing whist during the train ride across India, he joins Fogg and Passepartout on the elephant ride and assists in the rescue of Aouda.
Colonel Stamp Proctor, a large, red-bearded American who almost comes to blows with Fogg during a political rally in San Francisco, California. Later, they meet on a train and are about to duel when the Sioux attack, and Proctor is severely wounded.
Captain Andrew Speedy, the English captain of the Henrietta, an irascible man of fifty with red hair and a growling voice. Fogg is forced to buy passage to Bordeaux on his vessel for an exorbitant price. Once aboard, he bribes the crew to lock up Speedy and sail to Liverpool. He later buys the Henrietta from Speedy and burns its wooden superstructure for fuel.