What Obstacles Does Phileas Fogg Face In 'Around The World In Eighty Days'?

Phileas Fogg's journey in 'Around the World in Eighty Days' is packed with challenges that test his precision and calm. The most obvious hurdle is time itself—80 days is a razor-thin margin, and every delay threatens his wager. Transport failures like missed trains or unreliable ships force improvisation, like when he buys an elephant in India. Detective Fix becomes a human obstacle, convinced Fogg is a bank robber and sabotaging him at every port. Natural barriers like storms or avalanches disrupt routes, while cultural misunderstandings—such as rescuing Aouda from sacrifice—add unpredictable detours. Fogg’s greatest adversary isn’t geography but human unpredictability, proving even the best plans can’t control everything.

Fogg’s circumnavigation is a masterclass in overcoming both external and internal conflicts. The external ones are vivid: mechanical failures like the unfinished railroad in America force him to commandeer a snow-powered sail sled, showcasing his resourcefulness. Political barriers emerge too—British colonies bristle with bureaucracy, and Fix’s interference leads to Fogg’s arrest in Liverpool, nearly costing him the bet.

The human element is equally gripping. Passepartout’s kidnapping by Sioux warriors creates a critical delay, requiring a daring rescue. Aouda’s presence, while eventually uplifting, initially slows Fogg down as he prioritizes her safety over speed. Even Fogg’s own stoicism becomes a hurdle; his refusal to explain himself fuels Fix’s suspicions. The final twist—thinking he lost a day when he actually gained it—highlights how perception itself can be an obstacle.

What makes this compelling is how each challenge reflects Victorian-era tensions: technology’s limits, colonial complexities, and the clash between rigid discipline (Fogg) and chaotic reality.

Reading Fogg’s adventures feels like watching a domino effect of crises. Money solves some problems—bribing sailors to stoke coal fires for extra speed—but not others, like Fix’s dogged pursuit. Physical barriers are relentless: typhoons in Asia, buffalo herds blocking trains in the Wild West. Even societal norms trip him up; in Hong Kong, Passepartout gets opium-drugged while trying to secure passage, a consequence of cultural unfamiliarity.

The brilliance lies in how Fogg’s personality turns obstacles into opportunities. His calm lets him exploit gaps others panic over, like when he burns the ship’s woodwork to maintain speed. The journey’s irony? His greatest setback (Fix’s arrest) comes from being too *predictable*—his exact timetabling makes him seem like a fleeing criminal. Yet the ultimate hurdle is emotional: Fogg’s assumed failure upon returning to London cracks his icy demeanor, revealing the stakes weren’t just financial but existential.