Captain Nemo
Captain of the Nautilus, a brilliant but enigmatic inventor and recluse.
Core Belief
"Human society is inherently corrupt and oppressive, and true freedom can only be found outside its constraints."
Worldview
Nemo sees the world as divided between oppressors and the oppressed. He rejects societal norms and laws, believing that his actions are justified in the pursuit of justice and vengeance. He views the ocean as a sanctuary from the evils of the land, a place where he can exercise his freedom and control.
Personality
Nemo is a complex and contradictory character, possessing immense intelligence, scientific knowledge, and technological skill. He is driven by a deep-seated hatred of oppression and injustice, which fuels his desire for vengeance against society. He is also capable of great compassion and generosity, particularly towards the downtrodden. He is fiercely independent, secretive, and emotionally scarred.
In Their Own Words
"“I am not what you call a civilised man! I have done with society entirely, for reasons which I alone have the right of appreciating. I do not therefore obey its laws, and I desire you never to allude to them before me again!”"
"“The sea is everything. It covers seven-tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides. The sea is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the ‘Living Infinite,’ as one of your poets has said. In fact, Professor, Nature manifests herself in it by her three kingdoms, mineral, vegetable, and animal. The sea is the vast reservoir of Nature. The globe began with sea, so to speak; and who knows if it will not end with it? In it is supreme tranquillity. The sea does not belong to despots. Upon its surface men can still exercise unjust laws, fight, tear one another to pieces, and be carried away with terrestrial horrors. But at thirty feet below its level, their reign ceases, their influence is quenched, and their power disappears. Ah! sir, live—live in the bosom of the waters! There only is independence! There I recognise no masters! There I am free!”"
"“In retaining you, it is not you whom I guard—it is myself.”"
Other Characters from Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea
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