# The Hurricane of 1865 explained — The Mysterious Island

> Chapter companion for The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne.

## What happens

During a violent hurricane in March 1865, a balloon carrying five passengers and a dog is swept across the Pacific. The castaways struggle to keep the balloon aloft by throwing overboard all their possessions, including the basket itself. After a perilous descent, they sight land and crash onto an unknown shore, but one passenger is swept away by a wave just before landing.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Self-Reliance

The castaways must jettison all possessions and cling to the net to survive the balloon's descent.

### Providence and Mystery

The passengers call upon God for succor as they face the unknown; the balloon's final rise is attributed to a mysterious lightening.

### Nature and the Sublime

The hurricane's immense power and the vast, violent ocean are depicted as overwhelming and awe-inspiring.

## Character check-ins

### Cyrus Smith

One of the five passengers; his voice is heard giving commands during the crisis.

### Gideon Spilett

Among the passengers in the balloon basket.

### Pencroff

One of the five passengers; likely the sailor who suggests cutting the basket.

### Herbert Brown

Young passenger in the balloon.

### Neb

Passenger in the balloon; later searches for the missing Cyrus Smith.

### Top

The dog in the balloon; barks and spots land, alerting the passengers.

## Key lines

> Overboard with all we have, and God help us!

Throw everything overboard and may God assist us.

_Cyrus Smith's command to lighten the balloon._

> Top has seen something!

Top has spotted something.

_The dog's barking alerts the passengers to land._

> Perhaps he is trying to swim ashore. Save him! Let us save him!

He might be swimming to shore. We must rescue him!

_The castaways' immediate concern for the missing passenger._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mysterious_island_se/chapters/i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mysterious_island_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mysterious_island_se/chapters