The excerpt reflects a pivotal moment in Jules Verne's 'Around the World in Eighty Days', encapsulating the tension between fate and human determination. Fogg’s departure prompts an exploration of the theme of time as both a linear progression and an obstacle, challenging the protagonist's resolve. Historically, such narratives resonated with the Victorian obsession with exploration and the burgeoning global connections of the Industrial Age. This tension between progress and misfortune invites readers to consider the fragility of human ambition against the inexorable march of time, a motif that echoes throughout existential literature. (AI-generated commentary)

The docks of Liverpool buzzed with the raucous sounds of seagulls and the distant calls of vendors, but Phileas Fogg stood frozen, watching the 'China' slip away like a fleeting dream. His heart raced as the ship’s sails billowed in the wind, snatching away his last thread of hope, leaving him behind in a haze of salty air. With every second that passed, the weight of expectation pressed against him, igniting a fierce determination that burned within, as he resolved not to let fate dictate his journey. (AI-generated story)