Around the World in Eighty Days

In the nineteenth, it seemed impossible to circumnavigate the world in only 80 days. That is, however, exactly what Phileas Fogg did in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days. This novel follows the journey of the eccentric Englishman Phileas Fogg as he races around the world on a bet. Accompanied by his faithful servant, Passepartout, and a scheming detective, Fix, he encounters many challenges he must overcome in order to return in time. In Around the World in Eighty Days, Jules Verne demonstrates the increased industrialization of the nineteenth century, while also exploring the growing movements of nationalism and imperialism.

Phileas Fogg’s journey is made possible by the growing industrialization of the time. One example of industrialization is the extensive use of trains in the novel. During the nineteenth century, rail lines were expanding all over the world. For example, when Phileas Fogg reaches India, the change from old forms of transportation to new industrialized forms is described, “Formerly one was obliged to travel in India by the old cumbrous methods of going on foot or on horseback, in palanquins or unwieldy coaches; now, fast steamboats ply on the Indus and the Ganges, and a great railway, with branch lines joining the rail line at many points on this route, traverses the peninsula from Bombay to Calcutta in three days” (32). This demonstrates how the methods of transportation have become more advanced and industrialized throughout the century. Again, the industrialization of railways is shown when the party reaches America. “The journey from New York to San Francisco consumed, formerly, under the most favourable conditions, at least six months. It is now accomplished I seven days” (110). T...

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...out the world in the nineteenth century.

While nationalism and imperialism are similar, their overall ideas are different. Nationalism was all about being part of a country and identifying oneself as a member of that country. People were willing to give their life to defend their nation, as demonstrated in the novel by Fogg. Nationalism is having a unified identity that everyone in a certain country relates to. Imperialism, however, while still about the nation, was more about gaining land and expanding the empire. Countries were not concerned with treating the colonized people with respect. Imperialism was more focused on the government and wealthy business owners, whereas nationalism could appeal to everyone in the country. Overall, while nationalism and imperialism were both focused on creating a stronger country, the methods they used were different.