In an “Overview of Jules (Gabriel) Verne,” the unknown author detests many of Verne’s works, even The Journey to the Center of the Earth. This unknown author claims that in the story, Verne “describ[es] unlikely or impossible events in the most plausible way. ” For instance, in the final conclusion of this story, our protagonists, Axel and the professor ride a volcanic eruption on a wooden raft to make their last minute escape. Indeed it is dramatic, but it is very much unrealistic and adds boredom to the book rather than excitement.
In fact, Verne seemed to have left that particular part out of the story and merely ended a descriptive action by having Axel, the narrator, “have therefore no clear recollection of what happened during the following hours, but just a vague impression of continuous explosions” (Verne 280). Another weakness that Verne seems to be familiar with “is the frequent use of coincidence or happenstance to help move the story forward” (unknown author). This is very prevalent in Journey as Verne likes to give enormous lucky breaks to the characters in order to shorten the context of his story.
For example, Axel becomes lost and coincidentally falls straight into a sound corridor which allows him to “distinctly hear [his uncle’s] voice murmuring” all in the process of six pages (Verne 121). In a nutshell, it seems as if Verne uses very concise explanations and adds very brief side stories in order to compress the size of his story. Orwell, however, presents a criticism that I very well do not agree with. In Orwell’s criticism on Jules Verne, he states that The Journey does not “create a universe of its own” (Orwell 1).
According to Orwell, Verne does not create literary originality that most writers need to do, and rather ties his work to incidents inspired by others. However, this is invalid considering The Journey occurs in a location no one had imagined before or during this time period. Although the novel relies on scientific knowledge, no book requires the character to partake a “challenge to journey the center of the earth that no other will have experienced” (Verne 53). Orwell even states The Journey “uses [too much] science to overcome obstacles the main characters face [making it] too common a theme in Verne’s work” (Orwell 2).
Here, Orwell tries to reprimand Verne for being repetitive, and although what he says is true, the use of science is an inevitable, and necessary tool for a science fiction. Only “scientific arguments could stop [Axel and the] Professor” and this makes sense considering their studies and their passions are toward a scientific view of the world, rather than a literary or social sense (Verne 33). Orwell’s claim that Verne is not a reliable author due to these reasons are absurd: a reader can very well much understand and enjoy the content of the novel the way it has been written.
The two critiques present viable and disputable claims. However, the unknown author makes a much more agreeable point. Verne does seem to briefly explain things as his most critical chapters are only about five to six pages long each. As I was reading The Journey I noticed that many of actions occurring within the novel are ill explained. Orwell on the other hand presents an argument that, although is very true, is more of a positive point than a negative one. I believe without those aspects that Orwell mentioned, Verne’s work would not have been as enjoyable.
My opinions very well match that of the unknown author, and I believe Verne should have focused on improving his brevity and his ill-explained plot in his novel for a more dramatic story. The science behind it was brilliant and was connected very smoothly, but overall proved to be an original masterpiece. Character Analysis: Axel Lidenbrock Axel Lidenbrock is the narrator of Jules Verne’s A Journey to the Center of the Earth. He is the main protagonist of the story, and every detail and event that occurs is told from his point of view.
He is the nephew of Professor Otto Lidenbrock, and like his uncle, Axel is a geologist who partakes in his uncle’s studies. Axel Lidenbrock is a very hesitant character, and unlike his Uncle, and is less ambitious in discovery and action. When Axel reads the the message that influences journeying to the center of the earth, instead of it sparking a geologist’s excitement, it forces “a state of indescribable agitation” (Verne 25). His distaste is carried throughout the story and continues to detest the message’s belief.
He drags on his own belief that “the existence of a passage leading to the center of the world [is] pure imagination and absolutely impossible” (Verne 79). Axel continuously conveys a sense of giving up, and doesn’t stop to persuade his uncle from partaking the adventure Axel’s hesitance is stemmed from his weak character, and uncourageous mentality. Axel nonstop expresses a form of dubiety about himself, and as the story progresses, his uncle’s intelligence, and their survival on the trip.
Before the adventure begins, Axel is locked up with his cook and his uncle; a means of confinement presented by his uncle’s madness to unlock the cipher in the message. They are left without any food until they are able to unlock the code. Axel discovers the key to the message, but when horrified, he tries to “destroy the parcel with a trembling hand” but fails to do so (Verne 25). He eventually promises himself that the secret will not get across his uncle’s possession. However, after a day, “hunger defeats [him)” and “[he] resolves to tell [his uncle]” (Verne 26, 29).
Axel’s character is mentally fragile and crumbles very often when countering a problem. He also relies on a source to gather his courageousness: Grauben, Axel’s loved one, “encourages [him] to take part in the expedition” (Verne 44). The reliance he depends upon exhibits a sign of weakness throughout the novel, especially when Axel finds out that Grauben will not be participating in the journey. Without his one source of encouragement, he experiences “terror and despair which seizes upon [him)” and his “last hope [is] shattered” (Verne 171).
One of the most critical moments for Axel occurs during the journey, when he finds himself hopelessly lost alone in an unknown world. For the first time, he has to rely on himself for closure and survival, and teaches him to use his own intellect to save himself. His scientific “conclusion revives [his] spirit, and [he] decides to set off again without a moment’s delay” (Verne 167). Unlike the Axel presented in the beginning of the novel, this Axel experiences major change in character. He begins to use himself for assurance, something he required from his loved one, and builds up more courage influenced from his fear of death.
He logically uses scientific knowledge to save himself from a sound corridor which he falls into and loses unconsciousness. This critical moment changes Axel’s character, thus allowing him to be more of a contribution to the adventuring party. Axel ends up marrying Grauben, and it is then that he realizes that “[his] uncle is illustrious” and if he ever had the chance again, “he would seize the moment to adventure again” (Verne 291). The journey’s experience definitely changed him and at the end of his adventures, he realizes that he is much more than what he was than his character from the beginning of his story.
Conclusion Jules Verne’s The Journey to the Center of the Earth is arguably one of his best works and possibly one of the best non-English work of the nineteenth century. Although his book could have definitely been improved in many ways, especially in his habit to briefly explain his rising actions, no other book provides clear understandings of its plots. His book provides clear scientific explanations, and perhaps the most valid of its time while simultaneously providing a nifty adventure.
His value of cientific knowledge incorporated into each of the characters was a very interesting read. He also grabs the attention of readers by presenting puzzles that may be of curiosity to his audience. This Science fiction novel has definitely influenced many other authors as it created a foundation for science fiction. Many critiques convey Verne as the creator of a unique scientific style of writing, and indeed The Journey to the Center of the Earth proves that very claim: not many nineteenth century novels have been converted into a major motion picture in the twenty first century.