Themes & patterns

In Which Old Acquaintances Appear to Our New Readers, and in Which a Wonderful Man Is Described

The Gun Club's audacious moon voyage and the subsequent plan to exploit Arctic coal mines exemplify the overconfidence in human ingenuity and technology to conquer nature.

In Which a Telephone Communication Between Mrs. Scorbitt and J. T. Maston Is Interrupted

Maston's absolute confidence in his mathematical abilities and the Gun Club's plan to conquer the North Pole through calculation and technology exemplifies scientific hubris.

In Which President Barbicane Says No More Than Suits His Purpose

Barbicane's audacious plan to shift the Earth's axis reflects overconfidence in human engineering to dominate natural forces.

What Was Found in the Notebook of J. T. Maston and What It No Longer Contained

The N.P.P.A.'s plan to deliberately shift Earth's axis demonstrates extreme overconfidence in human technology to reshape the planet.

In Which J. T. Maston Heroically Continues to Be Silent

Maston and the Gun Club's plan to alter the Earth's axis exemplifies overreaching ambition, treating the planet as a controllable experiment.

Which Contains a Few Interesting Details for the Inhabitants of the Earthly Sphere

The N.P.P.A.'s attempt to shift the Earth's axis exemplifies overreaching scientific ambition with catastrophic global consequences.

In Which Old Acquaintances Appear to Our New Readers, and in Which a Wonderful Man Is Described

Mrs. Scorbitt's admiration for mathematicians and her lack of mathematical skill highlight contemporary stereotypes about women's intellectual capacities, while her wealth gives her a paradoxical power in a male-dominated venture.

In Which the North Polar Practical Association Rushes a Document Across Two Worlds

The document acknowledges claims by multiple nations (America, England, Russia, Denmark, etc.) to the Arctic, reflecting imperial competition over unclaimed lands.

In Which the Delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia Are Presented to the Reader

The chapter showcases intense national competition for the Arctic, with each delegate asserting historical and geographical claims, particularly between England and America.

In Which the Arctic Regions Are Sold at Auction to the Highest Bidder

The auction pits the United States against European powers, especially Great Britain, with national pride and territorial ambition at stake.

In Which the Possibility That Coal Mines Surround the North Pole Is Considered

The chapter highlights American-British tensions over Arctic coal claims, with European caricatures mocking the Yankee attempt to reach the North Pole.

In Which President Barbicane Says No More Than Suits His Purpose

The N.P.P.A.'s purchase of Arctic regions and Barbicane's assertion of U.S. ownership provoke tension with European delegates, highlighting national competition for resources.

In Which a Little Uneasiness Begins to Show Itself

European delegates suspect the American engineers are prioritizing U.S. safety and gain, stoking international distrust.

In Which the North Polar Practical Association Rushes a Document Across Two Worlds

The North Polar Practical Association's plan to auction the Arctic region exemplifies speculative capitalism, treating unexplored territory as a commodity to be bought and sold for profit.

In Which the Delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia Are Presented to the Reader

The auction of the polar regions highlights the speculative nature of the venture, with nations bidding on land of uncertain value, driven by potential profit and national pride.

In Which the Arctic Regions Are Sold at Auction to the Highest Bidder

The sale of the Arctic as real estate, with bidding per square mile and widespread betting, highlights speculative capitalism.

In Which Old Acquaintances Appear to Our New Readers, and in Which a Wonderful Man Is Described

The purchase of Arctic lands and the formation of the N.P.P.A. as a stock company reflect speculative capitalism, with Mrs. Scorbitt's fortune enabling the venture and the public's curiosity driving financial interest.

In Which the Possibility That Coal Mines Surround the North Pole Is Considered

The N.P.P.A. issues shares at $100, raising $15,000,000 in cash, with subscriptions exceeding expectations, illustrating speculative investment.

In Which President Barbicane Says No More Than Suits His Purpose

The meeting emphasizes the commercial exploitation of Arctic coal fields, with promises of unprecedented dividends to stockholders.

In Which a Telephone Communication Between Mrs. Scorbitt and J. T. Maston Is Interrupted

Mrs. Scorbitt's admiration for Maston's genius has turned into love, but Maston remains a determined bachelor, creating a romantic tension.

In Which This Story, as Truthful as It Is Improbable, Is Finished

Maston and Mrs. Scorbitt's marriage concludes the story, with love emerging from disaster; Pierdeux's romantic prospects also improve due to his newfound fame.

Yes, Just Like Jupiter

Barbicane & Co.'s plan represents a bold attempt to override natural cycles (seasons, climate zones) for human benefit, embodying the struggle to dominate nature.

In Which the Population of Wamasai Assemble to Hear President Barbicane Say ‘Fire’ to Capt. Nicholl

The immense explosion, described as combining all cannons and thunderbolts, underscores humanity's attempt to dominate natural forces.

In Which the North Polar Practical Association Rushes a Document Across Two Worlds

The anonymity of the Association's leaders and the mysterious final paragraph of the document generate public speculation and unease about the true intentions behind the sale.

In Which the Arctic Regions Are Sold at Auction to the Highest Bidder

The N.P.P.A.'s motives remain hidden, fueling public excitement and unease about the true value of the Arctic region.

In Which Appears the French Gentleman to Whom We Referred at the Beginning of This Truthful Story

The chapter highlights the growing public unease and criticism due to the N.P.P.A.'s refusal to disclose their method for altering the Earth's axis, with European delegates exploiting this secrecy to stir opposition.

In Which a Little Uneasiness Begins to Show Itself

The N.P.P.A.'s refusal to disclose details fuels public fear and leads to government intervention.

What Was Found in the Notebook of J. T. Maston and What It No Longer Contained

The torn-out page and Maston's silence fuel global fear and uncertainty about the impending catastrophe.

In Which J. T. Maston Heroically Continues to Be Silent

Maston's silence fuels global panic and suspicion, as the public and foreign powers fear the catastrophic consequences of the hidden operation.

In Which the Possibility That Coal Mines Surround the North Pole Is Considered

The chapter debates the exhaustion of coal and the need for new sources, linking industrial progress to geological exploration and potential environmental impact.

In Which a Telephone Communication Between Mrs. Scorbitt and J. T. Maston Is Interrupted

The telephone, a symbol of progress, becomes a conduit for a dangerous lightning strike that interrupts Maston's work, illustrating the unintended consequences of technological advancement.

Yes, Just Like Jupiter

The chapter highlights the anticipated benefits of altering the Earth's axis—stable climate, no seasons—while acknowledging the loss of familiar astronomical phenomena, reflecting the dual nature of technological progress.

In Which Appears the French Gentleman to Whom We Referred at the Beginning of This Truthful Story

Discussions in the press and among the public question whether the project's effects would be sudden or gradual, and whether terrible accidents might occur, reflecting anxieties about the unforeseen dangers of technological progress.

In Which a Little Uneasiness Begins to Show Itself

The potential benefits of altering the Earth's axis are overshadowed by fears of catastrophic side effects.

What Was Found in the Notebook of J. T. Maston and What It No Longer Contained

The potential for a single technological act to cause worldwide geographic and climatic upheaval highlights the double-edged nature of progress.