Poor Fogg you meanies!!

You people sure are hard Fogg. I do agree that he wasted a lot on Fix and ideally should have been more suspicious. But let's give him a little credit for trusting that people are generally good. He was just trying to be a generous person, which we know he tends to be like anyway. Remember the begger lady at the beginning. And why not help someone half your trip around the world if his same destination just happens to be the same as yours!!
And little Aouda. Who cares if she is afraid of being scared. She loves Phileas and Phileas apparantly loves her. At least he'll make sure she's taken care and that is more than some marriages. Plus, he did save her from an awful fate. I think Aouda is fine proposing the marriage. He may never have done it. She was just waiting for the right opportunity to express how she felt about it and found it.
Thank goodness Pass went to the church. I think this trip was good for him. I daresay he has grown as well as Fogg and Fix. "Oops. There was an amazing resemblence between you two!" What a dork.
Looking forward to the next book. And I'll only read by chapter so I can write more. I'm sure you're all looking forward to that.

Tay, why did you have to go there honey?!!

The End

Well, all's well that ends well. Fix got his and so did Pass., Aouda, and Phileas. I'm glad that it all ended well and that Aouda can be well taken care of by Fogg as he intended. I like that she proposed to him, but i'm debating whether or not that was through courage or fear or being alone or something else. It was definitely pre-meditated, something she'd been thinking about for quite some time. I like Passeportout. He's a kick and a great comic relief to the novel. (comic in the literary sense, shakespearian even)

Harry POtter was good. I am thoroughly satisfied with the ending.

What Did Fogg Win?

Fogg’s success cannot be measured in money because although he won the bet, he did not gain any actual financial profit (the little gain he got he split between Passepartout and Fix). So, I guess you could say that Fogg was successful because he gained bragging rights. But, by the end of the book what is there really to brag about? Fogg can’t brag that because of mathematical precision, knowledge and opportunity of modern transit, and planning for the unexpected he made it around the world in eighty days. Yet, that is what I believe he originally set out to achieve. Instead, due to some knowledge of modern transit, a lot of money, and a willingness to lead a mutiny he managed to finally make it around the world in spite of his stupidity in befriending and paying for the travel of a traitor. Worst of all for the calculating, calm, steady paced Fogg—he was too stupid to figure out that he gained a day and consequently, almost lost the bet. Perhaps, even worse, the only way he actually managed to win the bet was by a mad sprint to the Reform Club! I mean, does it get anymore humiliating than that? Other than that, I think the only success he had (since he didn’t bother to partake of the benefit of actually looking around foreign countries) was to “get” Mrs. Aouda. In fact, I would even call her a trophy wife. Maybe that’s how the term originated . . .

"I Really Must Be Stupid!"

The above quote is from Fix, ch. 30, however, I think it is the theme for this entire set of chapters.

Fogg is stupid for blindly accepting Fix and never questioning the coincidence of constantly meeting up with him. If Fogg wasn't so purposely introverted, he would have carried on enough conversation with Fix by now to be suspicious.

The conductor is stupid for taking the train full speed across the bridge. Fogg and Proctor are stupid to the point of being utterly ridiculous. They are fighting over nothing. And seriously, if they must fight, wouldn't a fist fight do the job? Are their egos so big that they would rather die than be alive knowing that the other who has insulted them is also alive? I mean it would be one thing if Proctor had slept with "the woman," but simply telling Fogg he shouldn't play diamonds? Give me a break. Duelling with Proctor is neither his duty nor the right thing to do.

Finally, Fix really is stupid. Not necessarily for suspecting Fogg. But he is stupid for being so obsessed with winning the finders fee that he won't accept the obvious signs that Fogg is not the bank robber. So, instead of finding the right suspect, he is going all around the world and wasting a lot of money traveling that will not be reimbursed by the bank. I predict it will end up alright though, since I am sure the "kind and generous" Fogg will decidedly and dispassionately reimburse Fix.

Chapters 26-30 Whimsy, you say?

I think "some" people are giving way too much credence to these characters. If Verne says anything profound, it is entirely accidental. So the train ride, the Mormon history (spelled Hyrum incorrectly). However, the closing line in Chapter 26 on wives "...one, and that way enough!" That's a keeper. The duel, the collapsed bridge. Passapartout's idea was a good one. An attack by Indians! The fact that Fogg does go back to retrieve Passapartout is not the deal breaker. It is that he was successful. It wasn't "duty calls"; it was "what the hell". These last few chapters, albeit entertaining, were at the most whimsical and at the least, contrived.

Most exciting!

Chapters 29 and 30 have been the most exciting yet, I thought the "Mormon" chapter was funny.

Fogg- I think is is more noble than ever, even if he does spend his money freely. I think he does what is right, because it is right, no matter who trys to discouage him., or if the right thing (saving Passepartout) makes him lose the bet. I think he is a man,he doesn't just look like a gentleman, but knows what one really is. I think Verne has created a man lead by virtue and morals ; who when put to the test lives by them.

Fix- I agree with his own assessment of himself he is an @$$.

Audoa- still faithful, and didn't swoon in battle, I like that she is strong. I think she is in love with Fogg.

Passepartout- I like that he and Fogg share each others burdens. Passe makes so many mistakes, but then does some brave thing and makes up for them all.

Proctor- why do men act like this??

Can Money Buy Anything?

Let's face it--this book does not show that any average person can travel the world in 80 days. It shows that a very rich Englishman can buy the impossible. If Fogg's pockets weren't overflowing with money, he would have been inevitably delayed on this trip. He pays bonuses to encourage captains to get him somewhere early or on-time, he uses a small fortune to buy an elephant, he can charter a ship on a whim and get the captain to take it through a typhoon (which was a "hazardous underaking . . . particularly at that time of year," ch. 21), and his English money can even be used to defeat the law (the bail posting). Furthermore, it appears Fogg is unconcerned in the least by the danger he is placing others in as long as they are properly compensated.

Fogg's best quality is that he knows how to throw his money around in order to get his way and that he has the arrogance and presumption to do it. And now it appears that Fogg's money is going to win over a woman who has no other options. Not that I mean to judge her--she probably really didn't have a lot of options. It's not like the nameless Mrs. Aouda could go out and get a job (and still maintain her level of class). Hell, I'd be willing to put up with an untalkative, whist playing old guy too. In fact, if any of you knows a rich one who likes to travel, let me know. I mean at least she is getting a guy that realizes how "unthinkable" it is that a woman could make a journey with only one bag. Ch. 20. And in return he is getting a woman that is fairly pleasant to look at, uncomplaining, soft spoken and who constantly expresses her gratitude and admiration for him. That's a heck of a deal and a great lesson on how to stretch a dollar.