This is the main theme of the novel and connected to it, is the main character, the hero of the story. Phileas Fogg is challenged by fellow whist players as to whether he can complete a journey around the world in the short span of eighty days. Fogg is extremely excited to take up this challenge, as he believes that if one is precise and efficient enough can make this journey possible. So he takes up the task and starts a hurried journey around the world. He has many ups and downs in this strenuous journey but he has a never say die attitude that sees him through. Entwined with the story of his travels is the one character who proves to be an obstacle once too often. He is the detective Fix and he suspects that, Fogg is a bank robber and that the hurried travel from one place to another is just a means of covering up the crime. So apart from natural hurdles and obstacles that Fogg has to face, he has the further machinations of detective Fix to circumvent. What is surprising is that Fogg does not suspect Fix and never smells a rat. In fact, Fogg helps Fix at more than one occasion.