¨Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea¨ by Jules Verne, a quotation is spoken by Captain Nemo, always shown as the mysterious and enigmatic leader of the submarine Nautilus. At this point in the novel, the protagonist, Professor Pierre Aronnax, and his companions have been captured by Nemo and taken aboard the Nautilus. During a conversation, Captain Nemo expresses his deep adoration for the sea. He views it as a place of freedom, mystery, and endless possibilities. For Captain Nemo, the sea is not just a body of water but a source of life and a sanctuary from the world above.
The sea is everything. It covers seven-tenths of the globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides. The sea is life.
I find this quotation quite interesting and striking because it reflects Captain Nemo’s complex relationship with the sea. For the Captain, the sea represents both refuge and life, a realm of infinite discovery, where humanity can escape the limitations and cruelties of the land. It speaks to the idea that the ocean, in its vastness and mystery, connects and holds life and vitality in a way that terrestrial life cannot. The phrase ¨The sea is life¨ feels powerful because it captures the deep connection that may people feel toward nature, and particularly the sea, which has the ability to both humble and astonish those who venture into its vastness. What I like about this quote is how it reflects Captain’s Nemo perspective as someone who has chosen, cut off from the surface world, yet finds peace and meaning in the sea’s infinite expanse.