Jules Verne
Doctor Ox's Experiment is a satirical science fiction novel by the famous author Jules Verne. It tells the story of an extremely calm and traditional town that is plunged into chaos and war overnight due to a secret experiment by the scientist Dr. Ox. The book illustrates how dangerous science can be in the wrong hands.
The premise involves Doctor Ox, under the guise of an urban lighting project, secretly administering high doses of oxygen to the people of Quiquendone to prove his perverse scientific theory. This transforms their centuries-old lethargic nature into a completely chaotic and aggressive madness, leading to a loss of control.
The fictional and insular town of Quiquendone, located near Oudenaarde and Bruges in Belgium (Flanders region), which does not appear on maps.
19th century. The text contains references to the year 1837 and the scientists and chemical discoveries (hydrogen and oxygen decomposition) of that period.
Initially, a town atmosphere that is extremely calm, stagnant, lethargic, and completely silent prevails. With Doctor Ox releasing oxygen gas into the system, this atmosphere suddenly turns hysterical, chaotic, aggressive, enthusiastic, and unbearably noisy.
An omniscient, sarcastic, humorous third-person external narrator who enjoys exaggerating descriptions and occasionally speaks directly to the reader (e.g., 'our readers will know').
The rules of the universe are ostensibly 19th-century reality but contain elements of science fiction and satire. The townspeople are biologically made entirely dependent on the oxygen level in the air they breathe. With the gas, both physical (plants grow to a massive size) and behavioral laws of the universe change with scientific disproportion.
A conservative bourgeois culture where Flemish temperament traits (phlegmatic nature, caution, gluttony, peacefulness, and frugality) are handled in a parodic and exaggerated manner, and traditions have remained unchanged for generations.
Characters are arranged at equal intervals on a circle; you can read the relationship type and dynamics by clicking on the lines.
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Initially, they are two phlegmatic companions who do nothing but approve of each other, stay silent, and fear making decisions. Under the influence of oxygen, their dynamics reverse completely; sharp political debates and insults begin, and due to a declaration of war, they end up scuffling in the tower and becoming so hostile that they challenge each other to a duel.
In a scuffle on the dark stairs of the tower, they pull each other's hair while calling each other 'We'll see, you stupid beast' and 'you dull blockhead'.
Ox is the dominant, visionary, and ruthless one; Ygène is the obedient but more anxious party who eventually feels remorse. Even though Ygène sees the dangerous consequences of the experiment and wants to turn off the valve, Ox does not abandon his hubris and tries to silence him with violence.
The moment Ygène is about to shout the truth to the crowd, Doctor Ox attacks him with indescribable rage and covers his assistant's mouth with punches.
At first, they live a love affair befitting the Flemish nature, spending ten years fishing separately and not saying a single word to each other; under the influence of the gas, they transform into passionate, hasty, and violence-prone individuals.
Frantz, who used to spend hours on the water waiting for his cork bobber, takes up a pistol duel at seventy-five paces against his rival Simon to win Suzel, due to the influence of the gas.
Normally highly respected, reserved, and peaceful professionals, they engage in a political war of words as the first visible sign of mass hysteria in the town, experiencing a polarization that eventually leads to a duel.
Doctor Custos engaging in a dangerous provocation by telling his rival, 'It seems to me that you are going a bit too far and not weighing your words'.
In the town life, which has strictly closed rules, subconscious urges are released at the ball that goes out of control due to the gas; Tatanémance passionately hugs the Commissioner amidst the chaos.
The Commissioner not remembering who he waltzed and hugged that night, even though the protagonist of that passionate embrace that haunts his dreams is actually the dear Tatanémance.
They have a routine, emotionless marriage where they never argue; they share a bond consistent with the local rule where the widowed marry within their own circle. Under the influence of the gas, the mayor fails to silence his wife, who transforms into a capricious, cantankerous woman who constantly scolds and attacks the housemaid/sister-in-law.
The mayor crying out in the face of his wife's shouting, 'In the end, you will kill me before yourself and overturn all the family traditions!'
Orbideck, a confectioner, becomes militarized in extraordinary circumstances, while Van Tricasse, normally an administrator, appoints him war commander under the influence of the gas. Military hierarchy and absurdity govern their dialogue.
Mayor Van Tricasse appointing the confectioner Jean Orbideck as commander-in-chief of the army after he claimed he would kill the most people (seven thousand) in the bid to kill the Virgamenians.
Two young men, who were not even rivals in the previous peaceful environment, turn into each other's potential killers for Suzel due to the explosion of testosterone and passion brought about by the gas.
Young Simon's passionate devotion to Suzel and his plan for a pistol duel with the meek Frantz, as neither wants to yield.
