# XXXIX explained — The Mysterious Island

> Chapter companion for The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne.

## What happens

The colonists learn the true identity of the mysterious castaway, who reveals himself as Ayrton, formerly the convict Ben Joyce. He recounts his past crimes, his abandonment on Tabor Island, and his long years of solitude and remorse. Despite his repentance, he chooses to live apart from the group at the corral, and a mysterious paper is discovered that he denies having thrown into the sea.

## Themes in this chapter

### Redemption and Transformation

Ayrton's confession and repentance highlight the possibility of moral redemption through suffering and labor.

### Isolation and Longing for Home

Ayrton's years of solitude on Tabor Island and his desire to live apart at the corral underscore the theme of isolation.

### Providence and Mystery

The mysterious paper that led the colonists to Ayrton, which he denies throwing, introduces an element of unexplained providence.

## Character check-ins

### Ayrton

Reveals his identity as Ben Joyce, recounts his past crimes and years of isolation on Tabor Island, and chooses to live at the corral.

### Cyrus Smith

Leads the colonists in building a house for Ayrton at the corral, offers him friendship and pardon, and questions him about the mysterious paper.

### Gideon Spilett

Works alongside Smith as a chemist and physicist, and participates in the discussions about Ayrton.

### Herbert Brown

Hunts with Spilett and is kept from traversing the forest alone for safety.

### Neb

Busy with work at the stables, poultry-yard, and corral.

### Pencroff

Works on chores around Granite House and the corral, and expresses curiosity about the Unknown's motives.

### Top

Present as part of the colony but not specifically highlighted in this chapter.

## Key lines

> These last events justified the presentiments of the colonists. There was some terrible past in the life of this man, expiated, perhaps, in the eyes of men, but which his conscience still held unabsolved.

The recent occurrences confirmed the colonists' suspicions that the stranger had a dark history, one that might be forgiven by others but not by his own conscience.

_Sets the tone for Ayrton's confession and the theme of guilt._

> Ayrton, crushed by this isolation, ever on the watch for a ship to appear upon the horizon of his island, asking himself if the time of expiation was nearly ended, suffered as one has rarely suffered.

Ayrton was overwhelmed by loneliness, constantly scanning the sea for a ship and wondering if his punishment would ever end, enduring extraordinary suffering.

_Highlights the theme of isolation and longing for home._

> I never threw any paper into the sea!

Ayrton denied ever placing a message in a bottle and casting it into the ocean.

_Introduces a mystery about the origin of the paper that led to his rescue._

## Links

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