In the story, Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Vern, Phileas Fogg, an eccentric Englishman gentleman, must travel around the world in eighty days. This is the result of his making a bet with the members of the Reform Club. As the story advances, Phileas Fogg is faced with the difficult task of traveling around the world, although, as he finds out, the task is not as difficult as first thought. As he faces many difficulties, Phileas Fogg overcomes them one after the other. Throughout his odyssey Phileas Fogg proves himself to be a calm, inventive, and kind person.
Phileas Fogg remains calm as he is faced with many hardships and difficulties while traveling around the world. A first example of Phileas Fogg’s tranquility is when he first makes the bet with the other Englishmen. Phileas Fogg makes the bet and then calmly keeps playing the whist hand they had just started, even though the Englishmen offered to let him leave immediately. Showing that Phileas Fogg is not anxious to leave. Another example of Phileas Fogg being calm occurs in Bombay.
While in Bombay, Phileas Fogg is required to pay a bail of £2,000 for himself and his servant, Passepartout, to continue on their journey. When Phileas Fogg pays the £2,000, he calmly hands over the money and his expression never changes, whereas Passepartout jumps as Phileas Fogg hands over the money. The difference between a calm person, Fogg, and one who is anxious, Passepartout, is seen here.
A further example of Phileas Fogg’s tranquility occurs when Phileas Fogg reaches London ten minutes before nine oclock, he returns home calmly. The most striking example of Phileas Fogg’s composer is seen as he is going to the Reform Club after learning he had not lost the bet. As he goes into the club,
Phileas Fogg walks instead of runs, showing tranquility in the moment of greatest anxiety. Instead of being overcome with anxiety, Phileas Fogg consistently remains calm in the face of many difficulties.
Phileas Fogg’s tranquility is undoubtedly aided by the fact that he is inventive. The first example of Phileas Fogg’s inventiveness is seen when he buys an elephant to make it to the continuation of the railway in India.
Phileas Fogg needs to find a way to travel to the next section of the railroad, and instead of walking, he scouts around and buys an elephant. Phileas Fogg’s creativity is on display again while in Hong Kong. His creativity is seen when he misses the steamer yet then goes to find a different boat instead of waiting for another steamer. Later, while traveling on this boat, the captain is running out of fuel for the engine, so Phileas Fogg buys the boat and tells the captain to burn any parts of the ship that are not unnecessary.
On the last leg of his journey, Phileas Fogg displays his creativity, when he is stuck in the middle of the US after saving Passerpartout, waiting for a train. While he is waiting, Phileas Fogg sees that he can hire a land sled, and so he hires one to take him to the next train station. Instead of being delayed in traveling around the world, Phileas Fogg uses his creativity to help him find alternate ways to continue his travels.
Phileas Fogg takes time to stop and save Aouda from being sacrificed unwillingly, showing that he cares more about people than he does his quest to travel around the world. Phileas Fogg also saves Passepartout’s life. This example is proof of Phileas Fogg’s kindness because he is
required to leave the only train crossing the US to save Passepartout, thus potentially losing the bet and giving up 20,000 pounds to save Passepartout. The kindness of Phileas Fogg is prominent all throughout his odyssey.
Throughout his epic adventure, Phileas Fogg displays that he is a calm, inventive, and, most of all, kind English gentleman. Staying calm, Phileas Fogg remains calm and does not show emotion even when others around him are under great stress. Though faced with many difficulties, he nevertheless uses his inventiveness to meet these moments of trial.
Above all, Phileas Fogg shows kindness through his self-denial, which has greatly increased by the end of his odyssey. How delightful it is, then, that he achieves the reward he thought he had lost. A friend like Phileas Fogg would be a great blessing to whoever has this kind and eccentric gentleman as a friend.
