How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
At that moment, my attention was caught by a few etchings on the walls that I had not noticed on my first visit. They were portraits of those great men of history whose lives were entirely devoted to a great human idea: Kosciusko, the hero who fell with the cry Finis Poloniae, Bozzaris, the Leonidas of modern Greece, O'Connell, the defender of Ireland, Washington, the founder of the American Union, Manin, the Italian patriot, Lincoln, who fell shot by a supporter of slavery, and finally John Brown, that martyr to the freeing of the black race, hanging from his gallows, as so terribly drawn by Victor Hugo.
What link existed between these heroic souls and the soul of Captain Nemo? Could I finally solve the mystery of his existence by this collection of portraits? Was he a champion of the downtrodden peoples, a liberator of enslaved races? Had he taken part in the political and social upheavals that had recently marked the century? Had he been one of the heroes of that terrible American Civil War, that frightful but forever glorious battle? (2.8.30-1)
Many of these men gave their lives fighting for freedom. But whose "freedom" is Nemo fighting for? Maybe Nemo steers the Nautilus into the Maelstrom after killing that last warship in an attempt to join the ranks of these other men who made the "ultimate sacrifice" for their causes.
Quote #5
"Never be of any use!" he replied animatedly. "What makes you believe, monsieur, that these riches must be considered wasted if I collect them? Do you think that it is for my own benefit that I take the trouble to gather these treasures? Who told you that I do not put them to good use? Do you think I am unaware there are suffering beings and oppressed races on this planet, wretches to be helped and victims to be avenged? Don't you understand?" (2.8.75)
Nemo seems to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder when it comes to his money. Perhaps he feels guilty for living such a comfortable life under the sea. In any case, he's like an underwater Robin Hood, stealing from rich (shipwrecks and clams) and giving to the poor and oppressed.
Quote #6
Captain Nemo joined us.
"Well, Master Land?" he enquired.
"Well, monsieur," replied the Canadian, whose enthusiasm had diminished; "it was a terrible sight indeed. But I am not a butcher, I am a hunter, and this was just butchers' work."
"It was a massacre of evil animals," said the captain, "and the Nautilus is not a butcher's knife."
"I prefer my harpoon."
"To each his weapon," replied Nemo, staring at Ned. (2.12.117-122)
Nemo apparently believes that other animals are just as capable of evil as human beings. So he deems one group of whales the "oppressors" and the others the "oppressed." When Nemo anthropomorphizes the whales in this way, he adds to our ever-growing-impression that Nemo is way too obsessed with vengeance for his own—or anyone else's—good.