Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Electric Timekeeping
Now look at this clock; it is electrical, and goes with a regularity that defies the best chronometers. I have divided it into twenty-four hours, like the Italian clocks, because for me there is neither night nor day, sun nor moon, but only that factitious light that I take with me to the bottom of the sea. just now, it is ten o’clock in the morning.” “Exactly.” “Another application of electricity. This dial hanging in front of us indicates the speed of the _Nautilus_.
Microstory
Beneath the shifting waves, Captain Nemo adjusted the dial of his electric clock, feeling the pulse of time as if it were a living thing. The faint hum of the _Nautilus_ echoed through the chamber, a mechanical heartbeat in the silence of the deep. He glanced at the shimmering display, its relentless precision a stark reminder of his separation from the sunlit world above, where day and night danced in a cycle he had long forsaken. (AI-generated story)
The excerpt reveals the intersection of technology and perception, emphasizing the transformative power of electricity in defining human experience. The mention of the clock, particularly its radical division of time into twenty-four hours, suggests a shift towards a modernized, mechanized understanding of time that aligns with the advancements of the Industrial Revolution. This portrayal reflects broader themes of alienation and existential exploration, particularly within the context of Jules Verne's work, where characters often grapple with the implications of scientific progress. Additionally, the insistence on artificial light in the depths of the ocean underscores a disconnection from natural cycles, raising questions about the nature of reality and the human condition in an increasingly industrialized world. (AI-generated commentary)