Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in Eighty Days follows the daring journey of Phileas Fogg and his valet, Jean Passepartout, as they attempt to circumnavigate the globe within eighty days for a wager of £20,000. The story is propelled by a small but memorable cast of characters: the methodical English gentleman, his resourceful French servant, a persistent detective, and a rescued princess. This guide covers each major character as described in Verne’s original novel and notes how they have been reinterpreted in later stage and screen adaptations. Learn more about Around the World in Eighty Days Characters.
Phileas Fogg
Phileas Fogg is a wealthy, eccentric, solitary English gentleman about forty years old who lives in Saville Row. He is described as tall and blond with a mustache and blue eyes. Fogg is the epitome of British stoicism and precision, keeping an exact routine that allows him to live with clockwork regularity. When he accepts the wager of £20,000 to travel around the world in eighty days, he embarks on the adventure with the same calm determination he applies to his daily life. Despite his reserved exterior, Fogg proves to be resourceful, courageous, and ultimately generous, especially toward the people he meets along the way.
In the 2021 PBS Masterpiece television adaptation, Phileas Fogg is played by David Tennant. That version expands on his backstory but retains his essential character as a man driven by honor and logic. The stage musical adaptation by IT&M describes Fogg as forty years old and the embodiment of the British stiff upper lip.
Jean Passepartout
Jean Passepartout is a French valet who enters Fogg’s service at the beginning of the novel. He is described as wily, acrobatic, physical, comical, honest, loyal, brave, flamboyant, and resourceful. Passepartout’s energy and ingenuity often save the pair from disaster, whether he is improvising a means of transport or using his former circus skills to escape a tight spot. While Fogg remains cool and measured, Passepartout provides the emotional warmth and humor, making him one of the most beloved characters in classic literature.
In the PBS Masterpiece series, Passepartout is portrayed by Ibrahim Koma. In the IT&M stage musical, his character is given an age of thirty, though the original novel does not specify his age. His loyalty to Fogg is a constant throughout all adaptations.
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Detective Fix
Fix is a Scotland Yard detective who becomes convinced that Phileas Fogg is the bank robber who stole £20,000 from the Bank of England. He follows Fogg around the world, attempting to delay him so that an arrest warrant can catch up. Fix’s persistence and suspicion create a secondary source of tension in the story, as readers wonder whether Fogg will be arrested before he completes his journey. In the original novel, Fix is a male detective, but his first name is not given, he is simply referred to as Detective Fix or Inspector Fix.
Modern adaptations have reimagined the character significantly. In the 2021 PBS Masterpiece television series, Fix is reimagined as a female American reporter named Abigail “Fix” Fortescue, played by Leonie Benesch. This change shifts the dynamic from a police chase to a journalistic pursuit. The IT&M stage musical also alters the character, portraying Inspector Fix as a fifty-year-old cockney. Readers should be aware that these variations belong to the adaptations, not to Verne’s original text.
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Aouda
Aouda is a beautiful Indian Parsee princess whom Phileas Fogg rescues from a forced ritual sacrifice. After being saved, she travels with Fogg and Passepartout for much of the journey. As they spend time together, Aouda and Fogg grow close, and by the end of the novel, she falls in love with him. Aouda is gentle, grateful, and intelligent, and she represents the emotional reward for Fogg’s otherwise calculated adventure. Her presence also allows Verne to explore themes of cultural difference and romance.
In the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s character study, Aouda is described simply as a Parsee princess. LitCharts confirms that she falls in love with Fogg after he rescues her, and the PBS Masterpiece adaptation retains this romantic arc. No novel source provides her exact age or extensive background beyond her royal status.
Adaptations and Character Changes of Around the World in Eighty Days Characters
Because Around the World in Eighty Days has been adapted for stage, film, and television numerous times, the characters have undergone various transformations. The table below summarizes the key differences between the original novel and two prominent adaptations.
Character | Original Novel | 2021 PBS Masterpiece | IT&M Stage Musical |
|---|---|---|---|
Phileas Fogg | Tall, blond, blue-eyed, about 40, lives on Saville Row. Stoic, precise, wealthy. | Played by David Tennant. Backstory expanded but core traits preserved. | 40 years old, epitome of British stoicism. No physical description given. |
Jean Passepartout | French valet, wily, acrobatic, comical, loyal, brave. Age not specified in novel. | Played by Ibrahim Koma. Retains resourceful, loyal nature. | 30 years old. Described as flamboyant and resourceful. |
Detective Fix | Male Scotland Yard detective who believes Fogg is the bank robber. | Reimagined as Abigail “Fix” Fortescue, a female American reporter played by Leonie Benesch. | Reimagined as a 50-year-old cockney inspector. Not a female reporter. |
Aouda | Beautiful Parsee princess rescued from sacrifice. Falls in love with Fogg. | Romantic arc retained; character remains a Parsee princess. | Not featured in the IT&M musical description provided. |
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These changes show how each adaptation reworks the characters to suit its medium and audience while keeping the essential spirit of Verne’s adventure. Readers who know only one version may be surprised by the differences, and exploring the original novel offers the most direct experience of the characters as Verne imagined them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the main character in Around the World in Eighty Days?
The main character is Phileas Fogg, a wealthy English gentleman who bets £20,000 that he can travel around the world in eighty days. His journey forms the central plot, and his calm, methodical personality contrasts sharply with the obstacles he encounters.
What is the relationship between Fogg and Passepartout?
Fogg hires Passepartout as his valet just before departing. While Fogg is reserved and precise, Passepartout is emotional, comical, and resourceful. Over the course of the journey, they develop a strong mutual loyalty. Passepartout’s bravery and cleverness often save Fogg from trouble.
Is Detective Fix a man or a woman in the original novel?
In Jules Verne’s original novel, Detective Fix is a male Scotland Yard detective. He is not given a first name. Some adaptations, notably the 2021 PBS Masterpiece series, reimagine the character as a female reporter named Abigail “Fix” Fortescue, but this change is not part of the source material.
Who is Aouda and why is she important?
Aouda is a Parsee princess whom Fogg rescues from a forced ritual sacrifice. She joins Fogg and Passepartout on their travels and eventually falls in love with Fogg. Her presence gives the story a romantic subplot and demonstrates Fogg’s capacity for compassion.
How do adaptations change the characters from the novel?
Adaptations often alter character backgrounds, ages, and professions to fit new settings or themes. For example, the 2021 PBS series turns Detective Fix into a female journalist, while the IT&M stage musical makes Fix a fifty-year-old cockney. Fogg and Passepartout remain mostly unchanged in personality, though their backstories are sometimes expanded.
