20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Set in 1866, the era of mid-19th-century exploration and early submarine fantasy. The period blends steam-powered travel with 19th-century scientific curiosity, as explorers push into uncharted waters and encounter marvels and dangers alike. The events reflect a Victorian-age fascination with science, discovery, and empire on the high seas.

The story begins on Long Island and quickly moves to the vast oceans aboard the advanced submarine Nautilus. Much of the action unfolds in the open seas beneath shifting surface and darkness, across the Atlantic toward the Indian Ocean and the Norwegian Sea. Deep beneath the waves, the Nautilus traverses the underwater realm, with Atlantis as a symbolic resting place for the dead. The voyage oscillates between tropical islands and remote, uninhabited shores as the trio explores the sea's wonders and dangers.

🔓 Freedom vs captivity

Ned Land's longing for freedom clashes with Nemo's self-imposed isolation aboard the Nautilus. The three companions' efforts to escape highlight the pull of personal liberty against a mysterious captain's control. The voyage becomes a test of what it means to be free, even inside a submarine.

⚔️ Revenge and morality

Captain Nemo's revenge against mankind drives his choices and his violence toward ships and lives at sea. The narrative weighs the costs of retribution against the potential for mercy and understanding. The crew's presence exposes the human costs of Nemo's crusade and challenges his solitary code.

🔬 Discovery and wonder

The professor and Conseil are captivated by the wonders of the underwater world, illustrating humanity's hunger to learn. Yet the voyage also reveals ethical tensions between curiosity and danger, as knowledge comes with responsibility. The depths provoke questions about science, civilization, and the price of knowledge.