Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: Part 2, Chapter 21 Summary & Analysis

Arronax is moved by the emotion in Nemo’s voice as he speaks about the name Avenger. It is finally becoming clear to Arronax that Nemo was driven to his life in the ocean by “wrath, either monstrous or sublime.” Arronax narrates that he will soon learn the source of Nemo’s resentment, but for now, he is distracted by a faint booming sound. He goes up to the platform, where Ned and Conseil are already standing and looking out at a vessel in the distance, the steamer Arronax saw before. The men observe that it’s a warship, but they can't tell from which country it's from, as there is no flag visible anywhere. Arronax predicts that regardless of the ship’s origin, it will probably accept them as “castaways”—but they must reach it first.

The men then realize that the warship is firing at the Nautilus. Arronax realizes that ever since the sinking of the Abraham Lincoln, the whole world must have been on the lookout for the Nautilus, which people now realize is not a narwhal but an “engine of destruction.” As such, this ship will treat the submarine as an enemy. Ned suggests that they try to show that they are friendly and begins waving a handkerchief, but Nemo calls him an “idiot.” Nemo then shouts mockingly at the other ship, encouraging them to shoot, but saying that he doesn’t want them to go down here and lie in the same place as the Avenger.

Nemo claims that he is “the oppressed” and that the ship before them is his “oppressor,” who took his family from him. Arronax finds Ned and Conseil and suggests that they take this opportunity to try and escape on the other ship. Ned agrees, but suggests they wait until night. At three a.m., Arronax returns to the platform to find Nemo still standing there. Arronax stays until six a.m., and in all this time Nemo doesn’t seem to notice him. He then goes down into the saloon and solemnly tells Ned and Conseil that the moment they have been waiting for has arrived. They shake hands. However, just as they go to move the submarine suddenly starts descending. Arronax realizes that Nemo intends to strike the other ship from beneath.

Arronax finds himself in despair, unsure of what to do. The submarine accelerates, and Arronax runs into the saloon, where he finds Nemo. Nemo is staring out of the window at the other ship, which is now an “open shell” with water pouring in. People are desperately trying to save themselves from drowning, to no avail. There is an explosion, destroying much of what remains of the ship. Arronax stares at Nemo, aghast. He watches as Nemo goes into his room and stares at a portrait of a woman and two children. Looking at the portrait, Nemo breaks down in tears.