French author Jules Verne, the third most translated author of all time, published his highly acclaimed novel Around the World in 80 days in 1873. After his renowned novels that were published in previous years, Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870), this work joins them as one of his most known. This creation and publication of this novel took place entirely during the era of imperialism and the setting of the novel is also based on the 1870s. Throughout his travels, Phileas Fogg witnesses the technological and scientific advances that are being experienced the world, particularly in terms of transport. By visiting other countries, he also immersed himself in the reality of imperial power and what was happening in the world. “I see that it is not at all useless to travel if you want to see something new” (Verne, Jules, chapter 9, Around the World in 80 Days, 1873). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Imperialism is a movement that has undoubtedly changed the world over a vast period of time. Around the 16th century, when what was called old imperialism existed, people from European nations settled in North and South America, as well as Southeast Asia. However, the movement known as the New Imperialism Era began around 1870 and was occurring in both reality and this fictional novel. Throughout his travels, almost all the countries he visits are or have been subject to imperialism (Class Notes). Above all, he visits Hong Kong and India, which are currently British colonies, at the time when Mr. Fogg and his traveling companions are there. “But British India proper embraces only seven hundred thousand square miles and a population of one hundred to one hundred and ten million inhabitants. A considerable part of India still escapes British authority; and there are certain fierce rajahs within who are absolutely independent. (Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days, 1873). As Verne was French and France was a known rival of Britain; he seems to write with interest about the British Empire and its imperial power. However, this interest does not seem negative, since the protagonist of his novel, Phileas Fogg, is in fact British and one of the main topics of the novel is the impact of the British and their colonial expansion across the world. began to settle in a city we know as Madras and only continued to expand. The importance of the expansion of British power is highlighted when he comments on the fact that the Indian princess Aouda spoke English, which could be a sign that the British nation was taking over: "She speaks English with great purity" (Verne, Jules, Around the World in 80 Days, chapter 14). He may just be commenting on the way she speaks, but I think the fact that she speaks English is a key fact. Not only does Mr. Fogg notice the people around him, but he is also very in tune with the places around him: "A more than European city, for it is as English as Manchester or Birmingham, with its foundries of iron, its advanced tool factories and its tall chimneys blew clouds of black smoke towards the sky” (Verne, Jules, Around the World in 80 Days, chapter 14). It appears Mr Fogg is shocked by the similarities between the Indian town of Monghyr and the English cities of Manchester and Birmingham. It seems that this particular city was very industrialized because of imperialism. As Fogg travels through Hong Kong, he isconfronted with similar observations and his thoughts return to the overwhelming imperial power of the British Empire. When traveling, machines and transportation are extremely important. Therefore, during his travels, it is undeniable that Phileas Fogg observes technology and its advances, particularly in terms of transportation. In a way different from most of Verne's fantastically creative science fiction works, this adventurous novel focuses on its times and what technology can achieve. Without the technology of the world of the time, Phileas Fogg and his French servant, Jean Passepartout would not have been able to complete their spontaneous journey through time that they did. Their achievement is worth celebrating, as is the fact that technology has and continues to unify the world by eliminating the difficulties of travel. Personally, reading the novel today in 2017, I see the contrasting developments in transportation and technology. The most commonly used means of transportation were steamboats, trading ships, and trains, and, unimaginably, they also used an elephant when all else failed. (http://www.mssresearch.org/?q=Around_the_World_in_80_Days) “The elephant was recovered and equipped without delay. The Parsi was experienced in the profession of “Mahout” or elephant keeper. He covered the elephant's back with a sort of saddle cloth and placed a rather uncomfortable litter on each side of its body. (Verne, Jules, Around the World in 80 Days, 1873, chapter 11). It is possible that Verne included an elephant as a means of transportation to show the contrast between using an animal as a means of transportation and a machine such as a train. Today, it is difficult to imagine a world without fast cars and planes, the world on which this story is based. In a way, this novel is a celebration of the advancements that technology has made over the last two hundred years or so. Without realizing it, Verne is, today and in the years to come, shining a light on the advanced technology and methods of transportation that we take for granted every day for today's readers. It took Canadian Jean B?liveau 11 years and 2 months to circumnavigate the world on foot, while a commercial flight would take approximately fifty-one hours to circumnavigate the globe. Fogg and his friend Ralph both agree with a certain theory: "The world has become smaller, since a man can now go around it ten times faster than a hundred years ago." And this is why the search for this thief will be more likely to be successful. » (Verne, Jules, Around the World in 80 Days, 1873). This statement is quite bittersweet, as if it depicts both the good and bad sides of technological evolution. progress that was happening daily. After reading and studying this 19th century novel, it is clear that technology, British colonialism, and the impact of imperial power on countries around the world were very important at the time (lecture notes). Fogg's traveling companion, Passepartout, states exactly how important British colonialism was to him "where the English engineers were still working, two thousand years after the engineers of Solomon" (Verne, Jules, Around the World in 80 Days , chapter 9, 1873). This statement compares the British Empire to Solomon's Empire in the Bible. This shows exactly the influence of the British. The novel also shows how the world relies on technology, without presenting it as a negative impact on humanity. This whole story would not be possible without transportation technology and the advances it made before the time of the novel and those it continues to make today. Keep)