Around the World in Eighty Days

The Victorian Era

Around the World in Eighty Days takes place during the Victorian Era, the period when Queen Victoria ruled Britain from 1837 to 1901. This era was marked by strong social class divisions. The upper class and aristocracy became richer and more powerful, while the working class gained only small improvements in wages and independence. Society strongly valued discipline, order, and respect for rules. People were expected to believe in hard work, honesty, responsibility, and honor. Phileas Fogg represents these values clearly: he is punctual, organized, calm, and highly respectful of rules and duty. However, Victorian society also had many contradictions. While it promoted morality, it ignored important issues such as women’s rights and social equality, showing a gap between moral ideals and real social practices.

Victorian literature often focused on moral questions and clear contrasts between right and wrong. In the novel, Jules Verne presents this moral conflict through the characters of Phileas Fogg and Detective Fix. Fogg consistently acts according to ethical principles: he respects laws even when they are unnecessary, helps others without hesitation, and saves Mrs. Aouda because he believes it is morally right. Detective Fix, on the other hand, appears to follow the law but is driven by selfish motives such as greed and personal reputation. Through this contrast, Verne shows that obeying the law does not always mean being moral, and he highlights the hypocrisy present in Victorian society.

British Imperialism

The novel reflects the height of British imperial power in the nineteenth century, a time when Britain controlled territories across the world. Many people proudly said that “the sun never sets on the British Empire” because its colonies existed in every time zone. Phileas Fogg’s journey is made easier because many of the places he visits—such as India and Egypt—were under British control. This gives him safety and easy access as a British traveler. However, the novel also reflects a colonial mindset. Non-European cultures are sometimes shown as backward or dangerous, and British intervention is presented as morally justified. This perspective reveals the cultural bias and sense of superiority common during the imperial era.

The Role of Newspapers

Newspapers played a powerful role in Victorian society, shaping public opinion and spreading information quickly. In the novel, Phileas Fogg is inspired to attempt his journey after reading a newspaper article. Once the journey begins, the press closely follows his progress, and the public debates whether he will succeed or fail. Newspapers influence his reputation, and people even place bets on the outcome. The novel’s fast-paced, episodic style also reflects the style of Victorian journalism, focusing on excitement and action rather than deep cultural understanding.

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution dramatically changed daily life by shifting societies from farming to manufacturing. It also improved transportation through the development of railways, steamships, roads, and canals. These advances made long-distance travel faster and more predictable, allowing Phileas Fogg to believe that traveling around the world in eighty days was possible. However, the novel also shows the limits of technology. When modern transport fails, Fogg must rely on traditional methods such as elephants and sledges. This suggests that human progress cannot fully control nature or eliminate uncertainty.

The Voyages extraordinaires

Around the World in Eighty Days, is part of Jules Verne’s literary project called Voyages extraordinaires, which aimed to combine scientific knowledge with adventure and imagination. Working with his publisher, Pierre-Jules Hetzel, Verne wrote stories that were both educational and entertaining. Unlike some of his other works that include futuristic inventions, this novel uses real transportation technology from 1872. This makes the story feel realistic while still being exciting, helping readers understand the scientific world of the nineteenth century.

English Gentlemen’s Clubs

Gentlemen’s clubs were important social institutions in Victorian England. These clubs were strictly for men, and women were completely forbidden from entering. Men used these spaces to relax, socialize, discuss politics, gamble, and escape family responsibilities. Phileas Fogg belongs to the Reform Club, where his famous wager begins. These clubs reflected the male-dominated and class-based nature of Victorian society. Their presence in the novel highlights how power, privilege, and social authority were concentrated in the hands of elite men.