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Age and build

Stature commanding and athletic

“I could not help admiring his stature, which was outlined in black on the luminous horizon” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 33)

Climbs steep slopes with exceptional agility

“For a man unaccustomed to walk on land, the Captain climbed the steep slopes with an agility I never saw equalled and which a hunter would have envied” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 38)

Face and hair

Face transfigured by violent emotion, eyes flashing

“His face was transfigured. His eyes flashed sullenly; his teeth were set; his stiff body, clenched fists, and head shrunk between his shoulders, betrayed the violent agitation that pervaded his whole frame” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 23)

Face becomes deadly pale during intense anger

“His face was deadly pale, with a spasm at his heart” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 45)

Generally impassive expression

“his face, generally so impassive, showed signs of uneasiness” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 39)

Dress

Wears heavy copper diving helmet and india-rubber suit underwater

“Then, following the Captain’s example, I allowed myself to be dressed in the heavy copper helmet, and our reservoirs of air were at once in activity” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 27)

Voice and speech

Roars rather than speaks when enraged

“He did not speak, he roared, as, with his body thrown forward, he wrung the Canadian’s shoulders” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 45)

Speaks coldly and ironically

“Ah! sir,” said Captain Nemo, in an ironical tone, “you will always be the same” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 37)

Signature words

Uses 'sir' in formal address

“Sir,” said Captain Nemo, “we will, if you please, take our bearings and fix the starting-point of this voyage” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 14)

Declares 'I owe all to the ocean'

“I owe all to the ocean; it produces electricity, and electricity gives heat, light, motion, and, in a word, life to the Nautilus” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 12)

Speaks of his will and power over the Nautilus

“You know whether I can do as I please with the Nautilus” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 37)

Gait and mannerisms

Walks before others as guide, beckoning by signs underwater

“Captain Nemo walked in front, his companion followed some steps behind. Conseil and I remained near each other, as if an exchange of words had been possible through our metallic cases” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 16)

Communicates through gestures and hand signals

“A gesture of his brought us all to a halt, and, however desirous I might be to scale the wall, I was obliged to stop” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 17)

Stands with hand stretched out to sea, watching intently

“My eyes did not leave the Captain, who, with his hand stretched out to sea, was watching with a glowing eye the glorious wreck” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 45)

Kneels and sobs when viewing portrait of woman and children

“Captain Nemo looked at them for some moments, stretched his arms towards them, and, kneeling down, burst into deep sobs” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 45)

Strengths

Fearless in facing extreme dangers and natural obstacles

“Captain Nemo, by an unaccountable caprice, would brave it at the surface. The wind blew from the south-west at first. Captain Nemo, during the squalls, had taken his place on the platform” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 43)

Skilled fighter, kills giant squid with axe blow

“Captain Nemo had rushed to the poulp, and with one blow of the axe had cut through one arm” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 42)

Capable of precise astronomical observation

“Captain Nemo, furnished with a lenticular glass which, by means of a mirror, corrected the refraction, watched the orb sinking below the horizon by degrees, following a lengthened diagonal” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 38)

Flaws

Driven by hatred and vengeance against nations

“It was no common misanthropy which had shut Captain Nemo and his companions within the Nautilus, but a hatred, either monstrous or sublime, which time could never weaken” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 45)

Imprisons those who discover his secret

“the secret of his life exacted from him our lasting imprisonment on board the Nautilus” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 35)

Uses the Nautilus as an engine of destruction and vengeance

“Terrible indeed! if, as we supposed, Captain Nemo employed the Nautilus in works of vengeance” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 45)

Becomes withdrawn and melancholic after losses

“Captain Nemo entered his room, and I saw him no more for some time. But that he was sad and irresolute I could see by the vessel, of which he was the soul, and which received all his impressions” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 43)

Recklessly risks the Nautilus and crew in dangerous pursuits

“I was obliged to admit that Captain Nemo was more than imprudent” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 37)

Traits

Brilliant scientist and inventor

“This room is not only a library,” said Captain Nemo, “it is also a smoking-room” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 11)

Cultured and educated, possesses extensive library

“Captain Nemo,” said I to my host, who had just thrown himself on one of the divans, “this is a library which would do honour to more than one of the continental palaces” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 11)

Capable of unexpected generosity and compassion

“Captain Nemo, drawing from the pocket of his dress a bag of pearls, placed it in his hand! This munificent charity from the man of the waters to the poor Cingalese was accepted with a trembling hand” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 27)

Mysterious and enigmatic, guards his identity fiercely

“I have said that Captain Nemo wept while watching the waves; his grief was great. It was the second companion he had lost since our arrival on board” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 43)

Possesses deep emotional capacity beneath stern exterior

“Captain Nemo, covered with blood, nearly exhausted, gazed upon the sea that had swallowed up one of his companions, and great tears gathered in his eyes” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 42)

Driven by obsession with exploration and discovery

“That which your D’Urville has done on the surface of the seas,” said Captain Nemo, “that have I done under them, and more easily, more completely than he” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 22)

Lines in their own words

Commands with authority

“Silence!” said the Captain; “up with the helm, reverse the engines” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 7)

Speaks of his mastery of the ocean

“That electricity alone can give,” said the Captain, hastily. “I repeat, sir, that the dynamic power of my engines is almost infinite” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 13)

Declares his ambition to reach the South Pole

“Yes,” replied the Captain, coldly, “to the Antarctic pole—to that unknown point from whence springs every meridian of the globe” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 37)

Reveals his contempt for surface nations

“Fool!” exclaimed the Captain, “do you wish to be pierced by the spur of the Nautilus before it is hurled at this vessel” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 45)

Proclaims his identity and flag

“Ah, ship of an accursed nation, you know who I am! I do not want your colours to know you by! Look! and I will show you mine” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 45)

Takes possession of the South Pole

“I, Captain Nemo, on this 21st day of March, 1868, have reached the South Pole on the ninetieth degree; and I take possession of this part of the globe, equal to one-sixth of the known continents” (Twenty Thousand Leagues, part 38)