Around the World in Eighty Days / Isolation in Adversity
There was a general disappointment among the passengers, who, without reckoning the delay, saw themselves compelled to trudge fifteen miles over a plain covered with snow. They grumbled and protested, and would certainly have thus attracted Phileas Fogg’s attention if he had not been completely absorbed in his game.
Microstory
Amidst the biting chill of the wind that howled across the snowy expanse, the passengers trudged wearily, their boots sinking into the white drifts with each reluctant step. Grumbling voices echoed like distant thunder, yet Phileas Fogg remained impervious, engrossed in the quiet strategy of his card game, the flicker of candlelight casting shadows that danced with the fervor of his concentration. To him, the cold and the complaints faded into mere background noise, a world away from the calculated moves and the thrill of potential victory. (AI-generated story)
The excerpt highlights the contrast between communal discontent and individual focus, illustrating a critical moment that underscores the themes of human perseverance and the clash of interests. Historically, it reflects the societal tensions of the Victorian era, where progress and punctuality were highly valued. Phileas Fogg's indifference to the passengers' plight also points to the emerging notion of individualism, a significant theme in literature of this period. The snow-covered plain serves as a metaphor for the obstacles one must overcome, emphasizing the arduous nature of the journey both physically and metaphorically. (AI-generated commentary)