# XXVIII explained — The Mysterious Island

> Chapter companion for The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne.

## What happens

The colonists return to Granite House to find the ladder missing and the dwelling seemingly occupied. After a night at the Chimneys, they discover monkeys have taken over their home. They attempt to drive them out, but the monkeys retreat inside. The engineer suggests entering through the old weir, but before they can, the monkeys flee in panic, and the ladder is thrown down to them. Inside, they capture a large orangutan, which Cyrus Smith decides to keep as a servant.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Cooperation

The colonists work together to solve the problem of the monkeys occupying their home, demonstrating teamwork and shared problem-solving.

### Nature and the Sublime

The mysterious events and the wild monkeys represent the untamed and unpredictable aspects of nature on the island.

## Character check-ins

### Pencroff

Frustrated and angry at the monkeys' occupation of Granite House; he cheers when the monkeys flee and later accepts the orangutan as a new domestic.

### Cyrus Smith

Calm and patient, he devises the plan to enter via the weir and decides to spare and domesticate the orangutan.

### Herbert Brown

Suggests making a servant of the captured orangutan, noting the intelligence of the species.

### Gideon Spilett

Shares in the anxiety and discussion of the mysterious events; comments on the orangutan's monotonous conversation.

### Neb

Disconsolate at being unable to return to the kitchen; later captures the orangutan in the corridor.

### Top

Remains on watch under the windows of Granite House and barks to alert the colonists of the monkeys' flight.

## Key lines

> If this is a joke, it’s a pretty poor one,” cried Pencroff. “To get home and not be able to find the staircase, won’t do for tired men.

Pencroff complains that finding their home inaccessible after a long journey is no laughing matter.

_Expresses the colonists' frustration at the missing ladder._

> There is but one thing to do, my friends,” said Smith, “to wait until daylight, and then to be governed by circumstances.

Smith advises patience and waiting for dawn before deciding on a course of action.

_Shows Smith's pragmatic leadership._

> Make a servant of it,” answered Herbert, half in earnest, as the lad knew how great was the intelligence of this race of quadrumana.

Herbert suggests domesticating the orangutan, recognizing the species' intelligence.

_Introduces the idea of taming the captured monkey._

## Links

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