Phileas Fogg
Fogg sets his life by the clock: He lives and breathes by watching the hours of the day. Every day, he follows a strict routine that finds him spending most of the day at the Reform Club, an upscale gentleman’s club in London, reading newspapers and playing his favorite game, whist. He has no wife, no children, and no relatives. Fogg is tall and handsome and exemplifies the token features of a modern British gentleman in Victorian England. His manner is reserved, he barely speaks, and his movements and speech are controlled. Fogg’s life exudes an air of mystery that draws the curiosity of people around him.
Fogg’s routine changes abruptly when he announces his plans to go around the world in eighty days based on a bet he makes with his fellow Reform Club members that, due to modern developments in transportation, the world is smaller than people think. Fogg feels so sure of his claim, as well as his prowess at keeping to a schedule, that he bets his fortune on his success. Over his journey, the real Fogg begins to emerge: a resourceful, daring, and respectful man who is determined to reach his goal. He’s not so determined, however, to put ambition or money over friendship, a quality that emerges as his relationship with his loyal servant, Passepartout, develops. Fogg also realizes that he is not as stoic as he once viewed himself, an awareness that emerges as Aouda, the woman he saves from India, eventually opens his heart to love.
Jean Passepartout
Passepartout is the counterpoint to Fogg’s reserved, cold exterior. Passepartout is lively, garrulous, and warm-hearted. He comes to London in search of a quieter life as a servant, which alludes to a rowdier past life back home in France. When Passepartout finds himself passed out on the deck a ship from a night of drinking, he’s reminded of his past and shudders. Passepartout is clearly determined to reform himself. In his past, Passepartout held many jobs, including circus performer, gym teacher, and fireman. Over time, he developed a well-rounded, muscular, able body that serves him well during his and Fogg’s adventure. Passepartout is also quick-thinking and resourceful. Passepartout’s lively, social nature sometimes gets him into trouble, as he isn’t always aware of when he should stop talking and sometimes lets details slip that he should not. Passepartout’s qualities balance those of Fogg, and together, they form a formidable team on their journey. By the end of the story, Passepartout realizes he possesses great loyalty and even risks his life to save Fogg, whom he views as a friend, not just as a master.
Detective Fix
Detective Fix is an archetypal officer of the law in any adventure story: out to catch the bad guy, no matter what. He proves he is just as determined as Fogg to reach a goal. When Fix hears of Fogg’s bet shortly after receiving the news that a robber dressed as a gentleman has stolen 55,000 pounds from the Bank of England, Fix assumes that Fogg is the robber and spreads a rumor that fuels his search for Fogg. Fix is a man of his times, working the media to achieve his goal. Fix chases Fogg across the world as he waits for the arrest warrant to catch up with them. Fix’s motivations are not completely pure, however: He’s hoping to claim the 2,000 pounds and 5 percent of the stolen money that’s being offered for the robber’s capture. When Fix witnesses several acts of Fogg’s kindness and generosity, his assumptions about Fogg are challenged. Is Fogg really a criminal? Fogg even pays for Fix’s lodging and fares on several occasions. These incidents challenge Fix’s morality and ethics as well as his adaptability of mind. However, like his namesake, Fix remains “fixed” on his impression of Fogg and won’t change his mind, reconciling his conscience with the idea that Fogg “owes” him for making him travel such a great distance.
Aouda
Aouda is a woman who stands at the crossroads of two opposing cultures, those of India and England during British imperialist expansion. She is the wife of an elder Indian rajah, or prince, and the daughter of a wealthy English merchant. Aouda had an English education and lives in the upper castes of India. She was given over to the rajah after her father’s death, most likely as a pawn or payment owed by her father. In this way, Aouda represents the role placed on women at that time between the two cultures. Aouda is charming, respectful, and quiet and remains a fairly undeveloped character until her feelings for Fogg begin to emerge over the course of their journey. She’s revealed as a clever woman, capable of thwarting scenarios that might engage Fogg in dispute, and she is formidably brave. Aouda is just as adventurous as Fogg or Passepartout, and her resourcefulness gets the group out of sticky situations. Despite her bravery and intellect, Aouda often apologizes to Fogg and blames herself for his predicaments, a trait demonstrating the expectation of women’s lower stature at the time. In the end, her warmheartedness, devotion, and gratitude to Fogg lead her to fall in love with him, and she proposes marriage to him in a bold, uncharacteristic gesture. Most importantly, Aouda proves to be the charm that opens Fogg’s heart and broadens his perspective on what matters in life.
The Reform Club Members
The group of men with whom Phileas Fogg spends his days at the club. They mostly play whist, a card game of risk and chance. The members include Andrew Stuart, an engineer; bankers John Sullivan and Samuel Fallentin; Thomas Flanagan, a beer brewer; and Gautier Ralph, the director of the Bank of England. They are convinced Fogg will lose his bet with them to circle the world in eighty days.
Sir Francis Cromarty
An English army officer stationed in India. He knows India well and is able to guide Fogg and his party through the particular terrain and customs of India. Fogg meets Cromarty on the train from Bombay to Calcutta, where they play whist, Fogg’s favorite game.
Parsee Guide
A member of the group of followers of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster who sought refuge in India. Fogg asks a Parsee guide to sell him his elephant and guide him to the train station. At first, the young guide doesn’t want to sell the animal, but he eventually agrees. Fogg gifts him back his elephant at the end of the trip.
John Bunsby
An English captain stationed in Hong Kong. He carries Fogg and his party on his ship Tankadere to Shanghai.
The Long Noses
A group of circus performers Passepartout joins in Japan on their last performance before leaving for America. Passepartout performs with them to make money for food.
Colonel Stamp Proctor
A rugged American man Fogg and his group meet at a political rally in San Francisco. Colonel Proctor is a tall, broad-shouldered, and rough-mannered man. He deeply offends Fogg and Fix when he punches Fix at the rally. Colonel Proctor challenges Fogg to a duel when they meet again on a train.
Camerfield and Mandiboy
Two candidates for the justice of the peace position in San Francisco. A rally forms in San Francisco over their race, which quickly turns into a brawl.
Elder Hitch
A Mormon who preaches aboard trains to attract followers. He corners Passepartout in a train car in Utah to ask him to join his religion.
Mudge
An American sledge driver who agrees to take Fogg and his party to Omaha in exchange for a reward.
Andrew Speedy
Captain of a ship called the Henrietta. He never carries passengers and sternly denies Fogg’s request to take him and his group across the Atlantic. He tells Fogg, “Money means nothing to me,” but then he relents when Fogg offers to pay him a large sum.
James Foster
Fogg’s previous servant, who is fired for bringing Fogg shaving water that is two degrees too cold.
Lord Albemarle
The only man who bets on Fogg, even after Fogg is accused of robbery.
James Strand
The man who actually committed the robbery at the bank, the crime for which Fogg is blamed. Strand is caught by the end of the story, and his capture exonerates Fogg’s name.
Reverend Samuel Wilson
The reverend who marries Fogg and Aouda.
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