20 000 Leagues Under The Sea Summary

Opposites are found everywhere in the world. Almost everything in the world is an opposite and this can be seen in people as well. In the novel 20,000 leagues under the sea, by Julius Verne, Pierre Aronnax is a scientist and studies organisms. Then the news starts reporting about a monster and Arronnax wants to find out what it is. So, he boards a government ship called the Abraham Lincoln with Conciel, his assistant. While on the Abraham Lincoln, professional harpooner, Ned Land is also on the ship. The monster shows up and attacks the ship. When the monster rams into the ship, Land, Aronnax, and Conciel fall off the ship. They soon find a submarine instead of the monster. Then they meet the Captain, Nemo. The submarine's name is Nautilus.
While Aronnax wants to find the secrets of the submarine, Land wants to get of the submarine as soon as possible. Aronnax and Land are character foils because of their thinking and strategies to get off of the submarine. Aronnax is a character foil to Land because of how they think. Aronnax thinks before he acts. On the other hand, Land just acts without thinking. Land does not want to stay on the submarine and thinks life on the shore is the best. Aronnax wants to explore the submarine and is not worrying about getting off the submarine. The professor saying to Land about a chance to escape off the submarine ,"' There is always the chance that during the next six months we will have another opportunity that we can take advantage of.'" (Verne 250). Aronnax is thoughts are not about an escape off the submarine saying,"' there will always be a chance"' (Verne 250). Land saying to Aronnax,"' oh that's fine!' ...'and where are we likely to be six months from now, if you please, Monsiuer La Naturaliste?'" (Verne 250). Land wants to immediately get off the submarine. Land does not plan on being there long. Land is a quick thinker and acts almost immediately. Aronnax thinks things through to decide the best choice. Aronnax does not want to mess up if he decides to escape. Aronnax knows that if they get caught trying to escape, they will be treated like prisoners. Aronnax wants to keep that little trust between Captain Nemo and himself. Land does not care about being a prisoner as long he is off the submarine. Land wants to be connected to the outside world instead of just the submarine. Arronax is a character foil to Land because of their different ways of doing things. Arronax is slow to action and makes the right decision. However, Land is quick to action without thinking of what is going to happen. Another way Land and Aronnax are character foils is how they react when on the submarine.
Land just wants to be on the shore and not in the submarine under water. Aronnax wants to find out the secrets of the submarine. Land does not realize that they are on a transportation way ahead of its time. Aronnax does realize that they are on a ship way ahead of its time. This is why Aronnax wants to stay on the ship to find out all the secrets. Land saying to Aronnax ,"' But don't you realize, Professor ... that one might perfectly well die of hunger in this iron cage?'" (Verne 56). Land does not realize how the submarine is a work of art, calling the submarine the iron cage. Land does not care about the submarine at all. Land cannot stand being submerged under water. Land just wants to be connected to the world instead of having only the crew, Aronnax, and Conciel. Aronnax saying to Land,"' we must not give up hope. We have been in more difficult situations than this. Do me a favor of waiting a while before you jump to any conclusions about the captain and the crew of this boat'" (Verne 56). Aronnax sees how the submarine and the crew is a magnificent work of art and a true marvel. Aronnax wants to find out all the secrets to the submarine and that is why he want to keep Land quiet, so that he can find out more about the submarine. Arronax and Land are character foils because they both have different points of views on the submarine. Land also just want to do anything he can to get off the submarine. Aronnax rephrasing saying,"' Do you mean you would seriously consider seizing the ship' ' I very much so'" (Verne 63). Land just wants to get off the submarine any way possible even if he will have to take over the submarine. Aronnax thinks that this is not a good idea at all and they will have to fight with the odds of three men against a whole crew of men. Plus, if they fail, they would be prisoners instead of being able to walk around the submarine. Aronnax is a character
foil to Land because Land just wants to get off the submarine and does not care about the submarine. Aronnax is amazed by the technology and wants to learn all about the submarine. Aronnax and Land are character foils by their ways of thinking. Land is a quick thinker and takes action. Aronnax likes to analyze and then take action. Aronnax wants to find out all the secrets of the submarine. Aronnax thinks of the submarine as a great discovery. Land does not care about the submarine. Aronnax wants to escape but, does not want to get caught. Aronnax would rather not escape and keep the trust between him and Captain Nemo. Aronnax wants to keep the trust to find out all the secrets of the submarine and have access to the whole submarine. Land wants to just get off the submarine any way possible. Land loves the land and not the secrets of the submarine. Aronnax and Land are character foils by Land wanting to get off the submarine no matter what and Arronax wants to find out all the secrets of the submarine. Everyone is a opposite in the world. Land and Aronnax are opposites just like everything else in the world.