Conquering Our Cetaceans With 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Photo by moi, taken in Okinawa Summer 2006
For those of you not familiar, the novel covers the adventures of three men who find themselves on board the Nautilus, manned by misanthrope and savant Captain Nemo.
After finishing the book, I realized that the personalities of the four main characters served as a reflection of those who we can strive to be like (or unlike!)
M. Aronnax
Who he is: A French historian with a love for underwater creatures, this is the narrator of the novel and it is through his eyes that we experience the adventures that take place in the Nautilus. He is well-educated but also well-versed in reading people–he is excited by discovering new things and is often caught between seeing his involuntary presence on board as a blessing and a curse.
What we can learn from him: This was a man who recognized his own flaws. He was readily accepted by Captain Nemo, and acted as a mediator between the captain and Ned Land. He is a good example of how one should try to see from both sides of the coin and observe conflicts with an open mind. I really admire his passion for learning and the way he embraces exploring the unknown–even when he is deathly afraid to do so. However, he also tended to get pushed around a lot and but rarely ever spoke his mind. Because of this, he faced many near-death experiences that could have been prevented by a simple refusal of an invitation to, oh say, swim in shark infested waters.
Conseil
Who he is: M. Aronnax’s right hand man, also French. He said very little and always took the side of “monsieur,” to the extent that he is willing to die with him. Although he remained pretty neutral speech-wise, he does have a definitive personality.
What we can learn from him: Such loyalty is hard to find. In a time where everything points to “to each his own,” “survival of the fittest,” “only the strongest survive,” etc… Loyalty is given very little thought these days. Conseil can serve as a reminder that it’s OK to be self-sacrificing and even enjoy not being in the spotlight. His faults lie in being such a straight arrow, that his companions at some points ceased to see him as an individual and would call upon him to sway arguments.
Ned Land
Who he is: An aggressive Canadian whose pleasures in life involved harpooning and eating steak. His straight-forward personality provided a lot of the conflict in the book, derived by his desire to escape at all costs.
What we can learn from him: Although noisy and hot-headed, Ned’s personality showed that sometimes you need to be pushy and loud in order to get what you want. If he has resigned himself to staying within the Nautilus as his other two companions had, they would not have the experience of hunting game on an unknown island.
Ned was also righteous, as he even helps out Captain Nemo when he was in a tight spot, despite his disdain for him. Unfortunately, his attitude prevented him from thinking clearly and often didn’t consider the consequences of his actions.
Captain Nemo
Who he is: A mysterious and reclusive thinker, Captain Nemo built the Nautilus as an attempt to get away from all land-bound humanity. He is a genius well educated in engineering and the fine arts, with a voracious appetite for exploring the sea and pushing boundaries.
What we can learn from him: Captain Nemo was hurt so badly in the past that he used all his energy to get away from land. Through his work, he created the Nautilus–a machine unlike any that was ever invented–and was able to explore and conquer the depths of the oceans. This is an example of using bad experiences to push you to do great things. His boldness and eccentricity is also what kept the voyage interesting. He never hesitated to push ahead, and if things went awry or complications occurred, he took full responsibility for it. Although he was captain, he was fiercely loyal to his crew. Captain Nemo, despite his hatred for humans, was a humanitarian for all intents and purposes: he donated his riches to the poor, and risked his own life to save someone that he didn’t know.
On the downside, he also had a bit of an ego (”claiming” lands with a large black flag with an ‘N’), and his hatred for those who wronged him runs so deep that he has destroyed the lives of many. He let revenge sway his emotions to do the unthinkable.
Conquering Our Cetaceans
There are many instances in the book in which a large sea monster or beast is attacking the Nautilus, and the men above have no other choice but to face them head on–a great and often-used metaphor of how life will throw us obstacles. But what about the obstacles we create for ourselves?
You might have a dream that you wish to achieve, with a big huge “BUT!” in the way. Because this obstacle is not necessarily one that life has thrown at you, but one that you have thrown yourself, you see no need, no pressing urge to fight it head on. This is what prevents you from achieving your dream. There are so many avenues you can explore that will help you face your cetacean–your giant squid or your pod of killer whales. Self-help websites, books, podcasts, or having faith in a higher power are all great ways to conquer self-doubts and just get going.
Going Under Instead of Over
When the characters in the book faced impossible events, Captain Nemo found ways around them–going “under instead of over” was a reoccurring phrase. Applying this sort of thought to tasks you face may be the way for you to get things done, or live life the way you want to. It doesn’t have the be the same way everyone else sees it–it could be completely opposite. Examine your lifestyle and see if it can’t be adjusted to be more courageous, more self-sacrificing, or more knowledgeable.
Ideas to get you started:
- Become a vegetarian (I am slowly trying to integrate this into my own lifestyle)
- Read one book a month
- Donate a piece of clothing whenever you buy a piece of clothing
- Buy only used or hand-made clothing
- Spend 15 minutes a day educating (or re-educating) yourself on something you wish you knew more about
- Learn a second language
- Become more aware of your impact on the environment
- Learn how to cook various staple dishes from all over the world
Hopefully this has inspired some to become more adventurous in their thinking, or at the very least, borrow a copy of the book from the library–I (obviously!) highly recommend it.
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