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'''Captain Nemo''' is a [[fictional character]] featured in [[Jules Verne]]'s novels ''[[Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea]]'' ([[1870]]) and ''[[The Mysterious Island]]'' ([[1874]]). "Nemo" is [[Latin language|Latin]] for "no one". |
'''Captain Nemo''' is a [[fictional character]] featured in [[Jules Verne]]'s novels ''[[Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea]]'' ([[1870]]) and ''[[The Mysterious Island]]'' ([[1874]]). "Nemo" is [[Latin language|Latin]] for "no one". |
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Nemo, one of the most famous anti-heroes in fiction, is a mysterious figure. He identifies with the oppressed, and an |
Nemo, one of the most famous anti-heroes in fiction, is a mysterious figure. He identifies with the oppressed, and the soldiers of an aggressive and evil nation have apparently murdered his wife and children. Nemo is a scientific genius who roams the depths of the sea in his [[submarine]], the ''[[Nautilus (Verne)|Nautilus]]'', which he built on a deserted island. In ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'' he states that the laws of the world on the surface do not apply to him any longer, and that he has fled to the sea to escape the barbarism of the human race, with its wars and oppression. He claims to have no interest in the affairs of the world above, but occasionally intervenes to aid the oppressed, giving salvaged treasure to [[Crete|Cretans]] resisting a [[Turkey|Turkish]] invasion, sinking warships, or protecting the colonists in [["The Mysterious Island]]" (see the following paragraph). |
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Nemo goes out of his way to accommodate Professor Aronnax and his companions, and also, during a diving expedition, he risks his life to save a pearl diver from a shark attack. Nemo deliberately projects a stern and controlled confidence, but he is driven by a thirst for vengeance, and wracked by remorse over the deaths of his crewmembers and even by the deaths of enemy sailors. In the ''The Mysterious Island'', a still mysterious but gentler Nemo secretly helps a group of castaways on a remote Pacific island which he has made his final port and where he intends to die. Nemo then reveals his true identity: he was a Hindu raja who fought against the British in the [[Indian Mutiny]] of 1857. In the end, he warns the castaways that the island will perish in a volcanic eruption, and dies of a mysterious illness just before the eruption. The colonists then obey his last instructions by scuttling the ship, which thus becomes his tomb. |
Nemo goes out of his way to accommodate Professor Aronnax and his companions, and also, during a diving expedition, he risks his life to save a pearl diver from a shark attack. Nemo deliberately projects a stern and controlled confidence, but he is driven by a thirst for vengeance, and wracked by remorse over the deaths of his crewmembers and even by the deaths of enemy sailors. In the ''The Mysterious Island'', a still mysterious but gentler Nemo secretly helps a group of castaways on a remote Pacific island which he has made his final port and where he intends to die. Nemo then reveals his true identity: he was a Hindu raja who fought against the British in the [[Indian Mutiny]] of 1857. In the end, he warns the castaways that the island will perish in a volcanic eruption, and dies of a mysterious illness just before the eruption. The colonists then obey his last instructions by scuttling the ship, which thus becomes his tomb. |
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Nemo's biography in |
Nemo's biography in ''The Mysterious Island'' does not entirely represent Verne's original intention. In the initial draft of ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'', Nemo was a [[szlachcic|Polish noble]] vengeful because of the murder of his family during the Russian repression of the [[January Uprising|Polish insurrection of 1863-1864]]. Verne's editor [[Pierre-Jules Hetzel]] feared a book ban in the Russian market and offending a French ally, the [[Russian Empire]]. He made Verne obscure Nemo's motivation in the first book, although it has been argued that Nemo hints at an [[Indian]] ancestry by saving an endangered South Indian pearl diver. (Following the scene in question, Nemo remarks to Aronnax, "That Indian is from the country of the oppressed. To my last breath, I am of that country.") |
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It is in the sequel, ''The Mysterious Island'', where Nemo presents himself as Prince Dakkar, the [[Hindu]] son of the [[rajah]] of Bundelkund and nephew of [[Tippoo Sahib] |
It is in the sequel, ''The Mysterious Island'', where Nemo presents himself as Prince Dakkar, the [[Hindu]] son of the [[rajah]] of Bundelkund and nephew of [[Tippoo Sahib] and possessed of a deep hatred of the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Right of conquest|conquest]] of India. After the [[Sepoy mutiny]], according to Nemo's account in Part 3, Chapter 16 of ''[[The Mysterious Island]]'', he devoted himself to scientific research and developed an advanced electric [[submarine]], the [[Nautilus (Verne)|''Nautilus'']]. He and a crew of his followers then cruised the seas, battling injustice, especially [[slavery]]. The gold of Spanish ships sunk at the Bay of [[Vigo]] provided them with money. |
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There is an apparent chronological inconsistency between the two novels in which Nemo appears. ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'' was written between 1869 and 1870 and records the voyages of the Nautilus between 1867 and 1868. ''[[The Mysterious Island]]'' was written in 1874 but plays immediately after the [[American Civil War]], from 1865 to 1867. This would mean that the Captain Nemo appearing in ''The Mysterious Island'' dies ''before'' the Captain Nemo in ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'' sets out on his undersea voyages. Also, when Captain Nemo is finally met in ''The Mysterious Island'', the meeting is set in 1868, the very year in which (according to ''Twenty Thousand Leagues'') Aronnax escaped from the Nautilus, |
There is an apparent chronological inconsistency between the two novels in which Nemo appears. ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'' was written between 1869 and 1870 and records the voyages of the Nautilus between 1867 and 1868. ''[[The Mysterious Island]]'' was written in 1874 but plays immediately after the [[American Civil War]], from 1865 to 1867. This would mean that the Captain Nemo appearing in ''The Mysterious Island'' dies ''before'' the Captain Nemo in ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'' sets out on his undersea voyages. Also, when Captain Nemo is finally met in ''The Mysterious Island'', the meeting is set in 1868, the very year in which (according to ''Twenty Thousand Leagues'') Aronnax escaped from the Nautilus, having come upon the submarine in 1867. But in ''The Mysterious Island,'' Nemo states that his first meeting with Aronnax took place "sixteen years ago." |
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== Captain Nemo and France == |
== Captain Nemo and France == |
Revision as of 00:06, 3 August 2007
Captain Nemo is a fictional character featured in Jules Verne's novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870) and The Mysterious Island (1874). "Nemo" is Latin for "no one".
Nemo, one of the most famous anti-heroes in fiction, is a mysterious figure. He identifies with the oppressed, and the soldiers of an aggressive and evil nation have apparently murdered his wife and children. Nemo is a scientific genius who roams the depths of the sea in his submarine, the Nautilus, which he built on a deserted island. In Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea he states that the laws of the world on the surface do not apply to him any longer, and that he has fled to the sea to escape the barbarism of the human race, with its wars and oppression. He claims to have no interest in the affairs of the world above, but occasionally intervenes to aid the oppressed, giving salvaged treasure to Cretans resisting a Turkish invasion, sinking warships, or protecting the colonists in "The Mysterious Island" (see the following paragraph).
Nemo goes out of his way to accommodate Professor Aronnax and his companions, and also, during a diving expedition, he risks his life to save a pearl diver from a shark attack. Nemo deliberately projects a stern and controlled confidence, but he is driven by a thirst for vengeance, and wracked by remorse over the deaths of his crewmembers and even by the deaths of enemy sailors. In the The Mysterious Island, a still mysterious but gentler Nemo secretly helps a group of castaways on a remote Pacific island which he has made his final port and where he intends to die. Nemo then reveals his true identity: he was a Hindu raja who fought against the British in the Indian Mutiny of 1857. In the end, he warns the castaways that the island will perish in a volcanic eruption, and dies of a mysterious illness just before the eruption. The colonists then obey his last instructions by scuttling the ship, which thus becomes his tomb.
Nemo's biography in The Mysterious Island does not entirely represent Verne's original intention. In the initial draft of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Nemo was a Polish noble vengeful because of the murder of his family during the Russian repression of the Polish insurrection of 1863-1864. Verne's editor Pierre-Jules Hetzel feared a book ban in the Russian market and offending a French ally, the Russian Empire. He made Verne obscure Nemo's motivation in the first book, although it has been argued that Nemo hints at an Indian ancestry by saving an endangered South Indian pearl diver. (Following the scene in question, Nemo remarks to Aronnax, "That Indian is from the country of the oppressed. To my last breath, I am of that country.")
It is in the sequel, The Mysterious Island, where Nemo presents himself as Prince Dakkar, the Hindu son of the rajah of Bundelkund and nephew of [[Tippoo Sahib] and possessed of a deep hatred of the British conquest of India. After the Sepoy mutiny, according to Nemo's account in Part 3, Chapter 16 of The Mysterious Island, he devoted himself to scientific research and developed an advanced electric submarine, the Nautilus. He and a crew of his followers then cruised the seas, battling injustice, especially slavery. The gold of Spanish ships sunk at the Bay of Vigo provided them with money.
There is an apparent chronological inconsistency between the two novels in which Nemo appears. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea was written between 1869 and 1870 and records the voyages of the Nautilus between 1867 and 1868. The Mysterious Island was written in 1874 but plays immediately after the American Civil War, from 1865 to 1867. This would mean that the Captain Nemo appearing in The Mysterious Island dies before the Captain Nemo in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea sets out on his undersea voyages. Also, when Captain Nemo is finally met in The Mysterious Island, the meeting is set in 1868, the very year in which (according to Twenty Thousand Leagues) Aronnax escaped from the Nautilus, having come upon the submarine in 1867. But in The Mysterious Island, Nemo states that his first meeting with Aronnax took place "sixteen years ago."
Captain Nemo and France
Numerous details in the novel suggest an attachement of Nemo for France:
- It is hinted that some of the crewmen of the Nautilus are of French origin and that Nemo looks like them. In chapter 8, Nemo and his first mate are seen by the three captives for the first time. After that, Prof. Arronax observes that "there is southern blood in them" and about the first-mate, he says: "his whole personality stamped with that southern–blooded zest that, in France, typifies the people of Provence."
- Nemo shows great interest in the history of France and his otherwise indifferent behaviour takes an emotional tone whenever the history or the creations of the French are the issue. For example; in chapter 19, it is revealed that he keeps relics taken from the ship of the French explorer, La Pérouse. In Part II, Chapter 4, before the Suez Canal, he exclaims: "All hail to Mr. de Lesseps!" In Part II, Chapter 20, he spends several days looking for the wreck of the sunken French warship the Vengeur.
- During the 21st chapter of Part II, Nemo attacks and sinks a warship of a nation that destroyed everything that he "loved, cherished, and venerated—homeland, wife, children, father, and mother!" This unidentified vessel is described as 'an armoured two-decker.' There are only two armoured two-deckers in history, and both were French vessels. In the original manuscript of the novel,[1] Verne adds: "the ship of a cursed, disgraced nation ... of the Solferino class." This would mean that France is Nemo's "unidentified enemy", and that Nemo is either an exiled revolutionary or an Algerian.
Captain Nemo in Popular Culture
Beside his original appearance in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island, Captain Nemo also appears in numerous other works though none written by Jules Verne and all works were created decades after the original books:
- The comic book The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (and its film adaptation), which suggests that Nemo actually faked his death in 1867.
- The Japanese anime Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, by Gainax.
- The villain in the Mighty Max episode "Around the World in Eighty Arms"
- In the Philip José Farmer novel The Other Log of Phileas Fogg, Nemo is depicted as being rather more sinister and self-serving. In addition, he is said to be an agent of the Capellans, one of two extraterrestrial factions (and, in the context of the novel, the less ethical) vying for control of the Earth and of all surviving examples of offworld technology. (As suggested by the title, Phileas Fogg is an agent of the other faction, the Eridaneans.) As well, there was allegedly more than one Captain Nemo, one of whom was James Moriarty, the nemesis of Sherlock Holmes.
- The novel Captain Nemo by K.J. Anderson.
- The novel Valhalla Rising by Clive Cussler
- The graphic novel trilogy Robur (based on Verne's Robur the Conqueror) by Jean-Marc Lofficier
- The series "Der Hexer von Salem" by German author Wolfgang Hohlbein, which is based on H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos
- The manga Captain Nemo by Jason DeAngeles and Aldin Viray.
- The developer working for Three Rings Design, mainly on Puzzle Pirates.
Portrayals
- Allen Holubar played Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916)
- Lionel Barrymore played 'Count Andre Dakkar' in Mysterious Island (1929)
- Leonard Penn played Captain Nemo in the Columbia movie serial Mysterious Island (1951)
- James Mason played Captain Nemo in the Walt Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954). His is the most famous portrayal.
- Herbert Lom played Captain Nemo in Mysterious Island (1961)
- Robert Ryan played Captain Nemo in Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969)
- Omar Sharif played Captain Nemo in La Isla misteriosa y el capitán Nemo (1973)
- Len Carlson played Captain Mark Nemo in the very loosely connected animated series The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo in the mid-1970s.
- José Ferrer played Captain Nemo in the TV movie and short lived TV-series The Return of Captain Nemo (1978)
- John Bach played Captain Nemo in the TV series Mysterious Island (1995)
- Michael Caine played Captain Nemo in the ABC-TV miniseries 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997)
- Ben Cross played Captain Nemo in the NBC-TV movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997)
- Naseeruddin Shah played Captain Nemo (unmistakably as an Indian Lord) in the film adaptation of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
- Patrick Stewart played Captain Nemo in the TV movie Mysterious Island (2005)
Trivia
- His name is the Latin for "nobody" or "no one", an allusion to the answer given by Odysseus to Polyphemus in the Odyssey.
- He has also been the subject of songs by Sarah Brightman and by the band, Dive.
- The central character in the animated movie Finding Nemo by Disney and Pixar is named after him.
- The Nightwish song Nemo was most probably written about this character.
- The Gundam Mobile suit by the same name is notable in that it is a cannon fodder mecha and hence, is "nobody".
- His personal flag is Argent letter "N" on sable field, notably similar to the device used by Napoleon.
- In the Nintendo game, Donkey Kong Country 3, K. Rool's submarine, the Knautilus, was named after Nemo's submarine.
- His name was used in the TV show Challenge Of the Super Friends episode entitled "Fairy Tales of Doom".
- In a canyon in the Arizona Desert, the word NEMO was found scratched into the walls in two separate locations. In his book Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer speculates that the inscriptions may have been made by Everett Ruess, a nomad who disappeared in that area in the 1930s. He suggests that Ruess may have made a reference to Captain Nemo because he identified with Nemo's decision to "sever his every tie upon the Earth," as recorded in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
References
External links
- The Mysterious Island: The Secret of the Island: Chapter XVI. A summary of his life.
- Literary analysis of the novels of Jules Verne
- The origin of Captain Nemo: at Captnemo's Home
Images
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Nemo facing a giant squid in Vingt Mille Lieues Sous les Mers
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Captain Nemo raises his personal flag on the South Pole in Vingt Mille Lieues Sous les Mers
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Captain Nemo playing the organ
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Captain Nemo's death in The Mysterious Island