The crux of "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne is a thrilling adventure centered on Phileas Fogg, a wealthy and methodical Englishman, who bets that he can travel around the world in 80 days. Accompanied by his loyal servant Passepartout, Fogg sets off on this audacious journey to win a wager, only to encounter numerous challenges, misadventures, and unexpected obstacles that test his resolve, timing, and ability to adapt.

At its core, the novel explores themes of determination, time, and the spirit of adventure, while also delving into the human capacity for adaptability and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Key Themes and Crux:

1. The Race Against Time: The central theme of Around the World in 80 Days is the race against time. Phileas Fogg's entire adventure hinges on completing his journey within 80 days to win a bet of £20,000 (a vast sum at the time). This intense focus on time creates a narrative full of tension, where every moment counts. Fogg's calm, precise nature stands in contrast to the unpredictable challenges that arise throughout the journey, from delays in transportation to unforeseen accidents. The pursuit of this ambitious goal brings into focus the human obsession with time and the consequences of being beholden to a fixed schedule.

2. Perseverance and Problem-Solving: Throughout the journey, Fogg's steadfastness in the face of adversity is tested repeatedly. Whether it's an accident in the train, a delay due to bad weather, or a confrontation with a villain (the detective Fix, who believes Fogg is a thief), Fogg and Passepartout display remarkable perseverance and resourcefulness. The novel emphasizes that success is often a matter of persistence, and that the ability to adapt to challenges with creativity and determination is crucial to achieving one’s goals.

3. Cultural Encounters and Global Awareness: The novel, set in the context of 19th-century imperialism and global exploration, presents an opportunity for readers to witness cultural diversity and geographical discovery. As Fogg travels across various countries, from India and Egypt to the United States and Japan, he encounters different cultures, landscapes, and customs. These encounters highlight the world’s diversity, and despite the sometimes turbulent interactions, the novel ultimately celebrates global interconnectedness and the spirit of international travel.

4. The Role of Fate and Coincidence: While Fogg relies on meticulous planning, much of his success is also shaped by luck and coincidence. Several key moments of the journey depend on chance events—such as a storm that delays a ship, a misunderstanding involving a supposed theft, and the arrival of Fogg just in time to make his connections. These serendipitous events suggest that while human effort is crucial, the role of fate and random chance can also significantly affect the outcome of one’s journey.

5. Character Growth and Transformation: Fogg begins the novel as a methodical, somewhat detached man, obsessed with precision and punctuality, and seemingly unconcerned with emotional or romantic matters. However, as the journey progresses, Fogg's character undergoes a significant transformation. His experiences, particularly with Aouda, a woman he rescues from a forced marriage in India, bring out a more compassionate and impulsive side. By the end of the novel, Fogg has evolved from a cold, calculating individual to someone capable of deep emotion, love, and spontaneity. His relationship with Aouda becomes one of mutual respect and affection, marking his personal growth.

6. The Significance of Love: A key subplot of the novel is the development of Fogg's romantic feelings for Aouda, a young woman he rescues during his travels in India. Initially motivated purely by the desire to complete the journey for the sake of the bet, Fogg’s growing affection for Aouda shifts the narrative from a mere race against time to a more personal and emotional journey. In the end, love, rather than the wager itself, becomes the true reward of the journey, suggesting that the value of adventure is often found not in the destination but in the relationships and experiences gained along the way.

7. The Conflict Between Time and Human Emotion: Fogg’s obsession with completing the journey in 80 days—driven by his bet—initially appears to place rationality and precision over emotional connections and personal growth. However, by the end of the novel, Verne demonstrates that while time may be a limiting factor in the material world, human emotions and relationships are what truly matter in life. The novel’s resolution, where Fogg believes he has failed the bet only to find that he has actually won, illustrates the idea that sometimes, what you think you’ve lost can turn out to be something you’ve gained.

Conclusion:

The crux of "Around the World in 80 Days" lies in the balance between the pursuit of ambition and the discovery of personal growth. Phileas Fogg’s journey is not only a race against time but also a transformative experience that challenges his perceptions of love, duty, and personal success. The novel combines adventure, scientific curiosity, and romanticism, ultimately suggesting that the true reward of any journey lies not in the destination, but in the lessons learned and the relationships forged along the way. The triumph of Fogg’s journey is not simply about winning a bet, but about the deeper realization that life, like travel, is unpredictable and full of surprising twists, and that love and human connection are more important than any clock or schedule.