20 000 Leagues Under The Sea Conseil Essay

The Importance of Conseil

The explanation to why Conseil is one of the most important characters in 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

In the novel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the character Conseil is described variously as Sir Arronax’s “servant”, “accomplice”, and “friend.” Conseil is thought of by many as the secondary character, or a side-kick, or in general someone who does nothing for the story. While Captain Nemo and Monsieur Arronax (and even Ned Land) take the spotlight in the story, Conseil plays an underrated part in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. With the condition that if it wasn’t for Conseil, Monsieur Arronax most likely wouldn’t have lived to even see The Nautilus or meet captain Nemo, let alone later survive being trapped in

Despite Ned Land and Arronax frequently butting-heads about whether or not to escape or stay (as captives aboard The Nautilus), Conseil, no matter his own opinion or feelings, stays completely loyal to Arronax. This quality of extreme, almost pathological, loyalty is so central to Conseil's character that one almost can describe Conseil in just that one word; he is loyal, kind, caring, and won’t let anything happen to Monsieur Arronax. This quality also provides the concept, safety-net, and foreshadowing that, no matter what, Conseil will be there to save Monsieur Arronax, a luxury that Conseil does not seem to enjoy in return. Once I realized this dynamic, as much as I often lost myself in the very descriptive book that is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, whenever it looked like there was no hope I found myself thinking that Conseil is surely right there at hand and ready to lay down his own life to save his friend

Conseil also remarks that “Oh! If I could only not breathe, so as to leave more air for my master!” Although this is certainly a noble sentiment, I consequently have to wonder if Arronax would have said the same had the roles been reversed. Further noting that in Monsieur Arronax’s darkest moment where his lungs were burning and he was in agony, Conseil, even though exhibiting the same level (if not more) of exhaustion and misery, never left Arronax for a