Topsy-Turvy · Themes
Themes & patterns
What Topsy-Turvy by Jules Verne keeps returning to.
Theme markers and the full heatmap sit beside the text — open a free preview to follow them in the book.
Theme heatmap
How major themes rise and fall across the book — a preview of the full map that sits beside the text as you read.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consciousness Free Will | |||||||||||
| Love Desire | |||||||||||
| Shame Humiliation | |||||||||||
| Hyperconsciousness Inaction |
Later chapters stay locked — follow themes live in the free preview.
See full heatmapScientific Hubris
The book explores the overconfidence of scientists and engineers who believe they can fundamentally alter the Earth's axis and climate for profit, ultimately showing that such ambitions exceed human capability and disrupt natural order.
Where it surfaces
- In Which Old Acquaintances Appear to Our New Readers, and in Which a Wonderful Man Is Described
- In Which a Telephone Communication Between Mrs. Scorbitt and J. T. Maston Is Interrupted
- In Which President Barbicane Says No More Than Suits His Purpose
- What Was Found in the Notebook of J. T. Maston and What It No Longer Contained
- In Which J. T. Maston Heroically Continues to Be Silent
- Which Contains a Few Interesting Details for the Inhabitants of the Earthly Sphere
Gender Roles and Intellectual Capacity
Through the debates between J.T. Maston and Mrs. Scorbitt, the narrative examines contemporary prejudices about women's aptitude for mathematics and science, while Mrs. Scorbitt's financial backing and emotional devotion challenge these stereotypes.
Where it surfaces
Imperialism and National Rivalry
The auction of the Arctic regions and the competition among England, Russia, and other European powers against the United States highlight themes of territorial greed, colonial ambition, and international conflict over unclaimed land.
Where it surfaces
- In Which the North Polar Practical Association Rushes a Document Across Two Worlds
- In Which the Delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia Are Presented to the Reader
- In Which the Arctic Regions Are Sold at Auction to the Highest Bidder
- In Which the Possibility That Coal Mines Surround the North Pole Is Considered
- In Which President Barbicane Says No More Than Suits His Purpose
- In Which a Little Uneasiness Begins to Show Itself
Capitalism and Speculation
The story satirizes American capitalism through the formation of the North Polar Practical Association, the public stock subscription, and the commodification of the North Pole as a speculative asset sold at auction.
Where it surfaces
- In Which the North Polar Practical Association Rushes a Document Across Two Worlds
- In Which the Delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia Are Presented to the Reader
- In Which the Arctic Regions Are Sold at Auction to the Highest Bidder
- In Which Old Acquaintances Appear to Our New Readers, and in Which a Wonderful Man Is Described
- In Which the Possibility That Coal Mines Surround the North Pole Is Considered
- In Which President Barbicane Says No More Than Suits His Purpose
Love and Marriage
Mrs. Evangelina Scorbitt's unrequited affection for J.T. Maston and their eventual marriage after his mathematical failure underscore a romantic subplot where personal devotion intersects with scientific ambition.
Humanity vs. Nature
The attempt to tilt the Earth's axis represents humanity's struggle to dominate nature, but the catastrophic potential of the plan and its ultimate impossibility reinforce the theme that natural forces are beyond human control.
Secrecy and Public Anxiety
The secret location of the cannon and the mysterious goals of Barbicane & Co. generate widespread fear, protests, and legal threats, illustrating how scientific secrecy can provoke public panic and governmental intervention.
Where it surfaces
- In Which the North Polar Practical Association Rushes a Document Across Two Worlds
- In Which the Arctic Regions Are Sold at Auction to the Highest Bidder
- In Which Appears the French Gentleman to Whom We Referred at the Beginning of This Truthful Story
- In Which a Little Uneasiness Begins to Show Itself
- What Was Found in the Notebook of J. T. Maston and What It No Longer Contained
- In Which J. T. Maston Heroically Continues to Be Silent
Progress and Its Consequences
The book critiques the idea of progress without foresight, as the promised benefits of climate control are overshadowed by the risk of global catastrophe, questioning whether technological advancement always serves humanity's best interests.
Where it surfaces
- In Which the Possibility That Coal Mines Surround the North Pole Is Considered
- In Which a Telephone Communication Between Mrs. Scorbitt and J. T. Maston Is Interrupted
- Yes, Just Like Jupiter
- In Which Appears the French Gentleman to Whom We Referred at the Beginning of This Truthful Story
- In Which a Little Uneasiness Begins to Show Itself
- What Was Found in the Notebook of J. T. Maston and What It No Longer Contained