Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: Part 2, Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Arronax remains puzzled over the direction in which the Nautilus is heading, wondering if Nemo is aiming to reach the South Pole. They are so far south that there are only a few hours of darkness per night; if they had been there only months earlier, there would have been no darkness at all. The Nautilus navigates through icebergs, and Arronax sees cities in their “surprising” shapes. Arronax is stunned by the eerie silence of the region, which makes it seem as if “everything [is] frozen up—even noise.” As the submarine progresses, ice forms over its surface, and Arronax realizes that they have become trapped in a kind of vice. 

While Arronax is convinced that the vessel is stuck, Nemo remains confident that it will come loose, and that they will be able to go even further south. Arronax is horrified by this idea. Nemo explains that he hopes to go under the Great Ice Barrier, noting that he wonders whether there will be enough oxygen. Arronax says that there is more than enough oxygen in the reservoirs, and Nemo agrees that this is true. Nemo then says that his only remaining concern is if the South Pole is covered with ice, meaning the submarine could not come up to the surface, but Arronax notes that the spur will be able to bore through the ice. Satisfied, Nemo sets about preparing for the expedition.

The Nautilus descends into the icy depths of the sea. Several times it attempts to return to the surface to replenish its oxygen supply, but—as expected—is met by a ceiling of thick ice. Arronax has difficulty sleeping, and finds that he can barely tell “whether [he is] asleep or waking.” Finally, Nemo bursts into the saloon with the news that they have reached a patch of open sea.