The Deification of Captain Nemo Molly Hughes 11th Grade

The Bible and ancient mythology, while primarily celebrating the divinity of their god or gods, also glorify mortal men. Most ancient Greek mythology involves a man using his own intelligence to outsmart and defeat all opponents, whether they be gods, men, or beasts. The leaders in the Bible rely on their own abilities and the powers of God to triumph over their oppressors. In the centuries since their birth, the heroes of both the Bible and of Greek mythology have been immortalized. Through repeated mythological and Biblical allusions in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne elevates Captain Nemo to a god-like status.

In response to “the monster” wreaking havoc upon countless ships, the United States government supplies the Abraham Lincoln to track and destroy the creature. With a substantial reward available to the person who spots the beast, crew members skip meals and sleep in order to watch the seas. As the decks were never void of watchful sailors, Dr. Aronnax, a scientist invited aboard, rightfully compares the Abraham Lincoln to Argus, a mythological creature who has a hundred eyes (Verne 13). The similarities between the Abraham Lincoln and Argus do not end at Aronnax’s superficial comparison of the eyes....