Around the World in Eighty Days · Chapter
In which Passepartout is only too glad to get off with the loss of his shoes explained
Phileas Fogg and Passepartout arrive in Bombay, where Fogg attends to business and dines while Passepartout explores the city.
What happens
Phileas Fogg and Passepartout arrive in Bombay, where Fogg attends to business and dines while Passepartout explores the city. Passepartout inadvertently enters a forbidden pagoda, is attacked by priests, and barely escapes to catch the train to Calcutta. Detective Fix, still pursuing Fogg, decides to follow them to Calcutta after learning of the incident.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This chapter marks the dramatic climax because it presents the highest physical and symbolic point of the jour…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Cultural Encounter and Imperialism
Passepartout's ignorance of local customs leads to a violent encounter with priests, highlighting the tensions between British travelers and native religious practices under colonial rule.
- Time and Punctuality
Fogg's precise schedule is emphasized: he leaves the steamer at 4:30 PM, must catch the 8:00 PM train, and his step beats 'like an astronomical clock.'
- Determination and Resilience
Despite the setback of Passepartout's misadventure, Fogg remains focused on his journey, and Fix resolves to continue his pursuit to Calcutta.
Characters to notice
- Phileas Fogg
Fogg calmly handles business in Bombay, dines, and rebukes the landlord for serving cat disguised as rabbit. He coldly admonishes Passepartout for his misadventure.
- Passepartout
Passepartout explores Bombay, watches a Parsee festival, enters a forbidden pagoda, is beaten by priests, and escapes shoeless and hatless, arriving just in time for the train.
- Fix
Fix goes to the Bombay police to seek a warrant, is disappointed it hasn't arrived, and decides to follow Fogg to Calcutta after overhearing Passepartout's story.
Key passages
“I hope that this will not happen again”
Fogg coldly warns Passepartout not to repeat his careless behavior.
Fogg's stern reaction to Passepartout's pagoda incident underscores his focus on punctuality and order.
“No, I’ll stay,” muttered he. “An offence has been committed on Indian soil. I’ve got my man.”
Fix decides to remain in India and continue pursuing Fogg, believing he has grounds for arrest.
Fix's determination to follow Fogg to Calcutta is motivated by the incident at the pagoda, which he sees as a crime on Indian soil.
“Be so good, landlord, as not to swear, but remember this: cats were formerly considered, in India, as sacred animals. That was a good time.”
Fogg sarcastically implies the landlord served cat instead of rabbit, referencing the former sacred status of cats in India.
Fogg's dry wit and knowledge of local customs are displayed during his dinner.
