Literary Techniques
In 1879, Verne's esteemed publisher, Hetzel, presented him with a manuscript authored by a protegé priest. Verne initially dismissed it with little regard, remarking to Hetzel, "The novel, if that is what it is, is a complete dud. There is absolutely no action, no struggle, and consequently no interest in it. The abbe gets all excited about his new torpedo thing, but I'll be hanged if we ever see it work." Despite his initial skepticism, Verne agreed, as a favor to Hetzel, to rework the novel, gradually finding himself captivated by its latent potentials. By maintaining the characters in a straightforward and unadorned manner, he highlighted the stark contrasts between the martial German and the pacifist Frenchman. Through transforming the narrative into a satirical fantasy, he could amplify certain traits to effectively drive home his point. Though the story is fantastical, it gains credibility once its central premise is embraced.
The Stark Contrast of Societies
The divergence between the two societies is profound. Stahlstadt, possibly inspired by Krupp's Essen, is portrayed as a forbidding and somber place: "Dreary roads, black cinders, and coke, wound around the sides of the mountains. Heaps of variegated scoria, which the scanty herbage fails to cover, glance and glare like the eyes of a basilisk. Here and there yawns the shaft of a deserted mine, a dark gulf, the mouth grown over with briars." The entire landscape mutates into a monstrous entity, and its people endure a bleak and monotonous existence. Even children such as Carl, the landlady's son, are consigned to labor in the mines. "Carl's young life was almost entirely passed fifteen hundred feet below the surface of the earth." Verne permits no joyful element to alleviate the stark dreariness of Stahlstadt.
In stark opposition, France Ville embodies an idyllic vision. "Half buried in thick masses of oleander and tamarinds, the beautiful city lay at the foot of the Cascade mountains, its marble quays gently caressed by the waves of the Pacific. The carefully watered roads, freshened by the breeze, a cheerful and animated spectacle . . . Brilliant beds of flowers exhaled their sweetness around the calm and smiling white houses." The residents are equally blessed. "A stranger arriving in the town would have been at once struck with the healthful look of the inhabitants."
Moral Allegory and Heroic Feats
This narrative paints a world of stark contrasts, delineating a moral allegory, which is vividly expressed in the heroic character of young Marcel. His extraordinary feats, reminiscent of Superman, can only be embraced when contextualized against such a backdrop. Thus, The Begum's Fortune emerges as a didactic fable, where the morbid demise of its villainous mastermind, Schultz, is both satirical and gratifying. Marcel, once more infiltrating the city of steel, views Schultz's form through an enormous glass pane resembling a magnifying lens, frozen by his own creation. "Like a mammoth buried in the polar regions, the corpse had been there for a month, hidden from every eye."
Ideas for Group Discussions
Like countless utopias before it, Verne's France Ville dazzles as an idyllic haven at first glance. Yet, beneath its polished surface, one might uncover some glaring imperfections. Here, the collective good is held supreme over individual liberty, occasionally curtailing personal freedom and autonomy. In this sense, France Ville may share more with Stahlstadt than initially meets the eye. Delving into Verne's vision of a perfect city, alongside examinations of utopian ideals at large, unlocks a trove of fascinating discussions. It could also invite comparisons with other illustrious utopias, such as Sir Thomas More's creation or Voltaire's anti-utopia within Candide (1759).
Exploring Verne's Vision
1. Much like his fellow science...
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fiction pioneers, Verne envisioned a future brimming with societal improvement. What are some of the noble aspirations he illustrates through his planning for France Ville?
2. The Begum's Fortune is a satirical work unmasking various societal issues. In its opening chapter, Verne critiques the legal profession, spotlighting the lawyers managing Dr. Sarrasin's inheritance. Are there other groups or professions that fall under his scrutiny?
Characters and Regions
3. The narrative's true hero, Marcel, hails from the Alsace region. Is there a deeper political significance in choosing Marcel's homeland, given the novel’s backdrop?
4. What fuels Professor Schultz's animosity towards the French? What intent lies behind Verne's portrayal of Schultz and Sarrasin as representatives of the Saxon and the Celt? How does Schultz view those outside his German heritage?
5. Dr. Sarrasin's son, Otto, plays a peculiar role. Despite vanishing after the initial chapters, he resurfaces unexpectedly at the story's close. What purpose does he serve within the plot?
Themes and Societal Critique
6. What philosophy governs Stahlstadt? A modern lens might critique it from an environmental standpoint. What are Verne's reservations? After Schultze meets his demise, France Ville steps in to operate the manufacturing plants. Does this align with our concepts of humane values, or even with Verne's own perspective? Does it echo the nineteenth-century stance on technology and progress?
7. Would readers from the late twentieth century find appeal in living within the boundaries of France Ville? What factors would sway their decision?
Inventions and Consequences
8. Is it telling that Professor Schultz is ultimately undone by his own creation, rather than by France Ville's citizens? What insights does Verne offer on the nature of evil through this choice?
9. After Schultz's disappearance, chaos ensues, particularly affecting the stock exchange. What does Verne intend by delving into such economic ramifications? Is he merely heightening suspense, or is he shining a light on technology's impact on the economy?
Science Fiction and Foresight
10. Various literary critics and authors assert that science fiction serves to prepare us for future realities. Do Verne's narratives fulfill this role, and what future does he envisage?
Literary Precedents
The Begum's Fortune emerges as a captivating tapestry woven with elements of both fantasy and what we recognize today as science fiction. Jules Verne, a pioneering architect of this genre, masterfully blends futuristic technology with riveting adventure. His profound impact on the realm of science fiction is monumental. H. G. Wells, the genius behind timeless masterpieces such as The Time Machine and War of the Worlds, reminisced about his early days, saying he "was welcomed as a second Dickens, a second Bulwer Lytton, a second Jules Verne." Another torchbearer in Verne's legacy is Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose Mars narratives unfold in futuristic cities brimming with Utopian innovations.
Verne's scientific narratives embody a singular expression of industrial age literature, a legacy that continued to flourish well into the twentieth century. Visionaries like Arthur C. Clarke, William Tenn, Robert Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Sheckley extended the technological horizons, echoing Verne's portrayal of Utopian and technologically advanced communities.
Utopian Influences
The Begum's Fortune also finds classification under the Utopian novel genre. In France Ville, Verne explores the potential of an ideal future society. He shares this fascination with the likes of Francis Bacon's The New Atlantis, Sir Thomas More's Utopia, segments of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, and Samuel Johnson's Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia. However, unlike these authors, Verne's intrigue leans heavily towards the pragmatic application of concepts like hygiene and city planning.
In contrast to figures like Thomas More, who deeply delved into the moral cultivation of society, Verne assumed the morality of his city's inhabitants stemmed from their flawless environment. His focus shifts towards meticulous depictions of hospitals and housing, guided by the principle of mens sana in corpore sano—a healthy mind as a consequence of a healthy body. While most Utopian philosophers elaborate extensively on educational systems to nurture their citizens' intellects, it is noteworthy that Verne's vision for France Ville omits any educational schematics. His narratives transcend typical Utopian ideals, firmly planting themselves in the realm of science fiction.
Adaptations
Many of Verne's novels pulse with suspense, teeming with thrills and action ripe for cinematic adaptation. Yet, The Begum's Fortune remains shrouded in relative obscurity compared to his other illustrious works. It wasn't until 1958 that O. I. Evans unveiled the sole English translation, published by Ace Books as part of a series crafted to introduce readers to Verne's lesser-known gems.
Moreover, its biting satire and pronounced anti-German sentiments render this novel less than ideal for the silver screen.
