The Mysterious Island

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1875

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-12

Part 1, Chapters 13-22

Part 2, Chapters 1-10

Part 2, Chapters 11-20

Part 3, Chapters 1-10

Part 3, Chapters 11-20

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Messages

Messages are important symbols in the novel, representing civilization and the bonds of humanity. When Cyrus is initially reluctant to agree to a voyage to Tabor Island, his mind changes when the men discover a message in a bottle sent by a castaway. Cyrus believes that sailing out immediately to rescue the castaway is the right thing to do, reflecting the island community’s ethical commitment to supporting other human beings in need. This leads them to Aryton, who, although he did not write the message, is nevertheless a castaway in need of help and human solidarity.

A similar message appears at the end of the novel when the men discover that Captain Nemo left a message on Tabor Island revealing their whereabouts so that the Duncan would eventually come to their rescue. Captain Nemo’s message saves the lives of all the men, who are about to perish when the Duncan finally appears. Messages thus symbolize the ways in which humans can connect with and support one another, reflecting The Importance of Friendship and Camaraderie in human survival.

Religious Timekeeping

While the men of the island never make any overly specific theological claims, the castaways have a generic religiosity clearly informed by Christianity. God is mentioned more than three dozen times, and the men continue to remember and recognize Christian holy days throughout their time on the island. This motif of religious timekeeping reflects ideas of divine providence and forms part of the men’s ethical outlook.

The first Easter on the island is marked with a day of rest and explained by Verne in the following way: “These Americans were religious men, conscientiously observant of the Bible’s teachings, and their present circumstances could only heighten their faith in the Author of all things” (144). In clinging to “their faith in the Author of all things” and constructing their lives according to a Christian calendar, the men stubbornly cling to the beliefs and rituals of their American homeland, signaling their ongoing commitment to their own ideas of civilization and Christian virtue.

Deus ex Machina

Deus ex machina—Latin for “god from the machine”—refers to a narrative plot point that seems unlikely and occurs purely to solve a problem inherent in the plot. Verne turns this device into a motif, scattering various improbable and fortuitous events throughout the plot to rescue the characters from their difficulties. In a twist at the novel’s end, the men discover that these strokes of luck were not random events but the result of Captain Nemo’s careful guardianship of them.

Take the appearance of the treasure chest on the beach, for instance. In a typical deus ex machina event, the characters would simply thank their good fortune that such a helpful item appeared for their use, and no other explanation would ever be given. Verne’s characters, however, recognize that this is not the kind of thing that just happens out of nowhere, and they continuously search for answers. The men’s determination to find the rational cause of the mysterious events ultimately leads them to Captain Nemo.