Jules Verne

Verne wrote Journey to the Center of the Earth during a period of conflicting notions and rumors regarding the validity of science. Researchers were looking further into the origins and composition of Earth. Furthermore, questions were being raised concerning evolution and extinction, all of which played key roles in Verne’s novel. Mixing these discoveries with elements of fantasy allowed for a detachment from reality, but not completely. Without the fantasy elements, Verne fretted his novel would result in rejection from the religious community with content surrounding evolution. Verne hoped the audience would remain skeptical of extinct species living in the Earth’s core, but it would create a sense of wonder and questioning. Including these fantastical elements establishes a separation from reality, but leaves the reader to ponder on the validity of discoveries made during the time. Verne’s novel establishes the idea that nature’s dominance will triumph over man’s control; additionally, the fantastical setting urges the reader to remain skeptical of the rumors surrounding scientific discovery.