Tom Ayrton

Tom Ayrton is a complex and fascinating character who appears in two novels by French author Jules Verne. He is first introduced as a major character in the novel In Search of the Castaways (1867–1868). In this novel, Ayrton is a castaway who is rescued by a group of British sailors. He initially tries to betray them, but eventually comes to their aid and helps them to survive on a desert island. Ayrton then reappears in a later novel, The Mysterious Island (1874). In this novel, Ayrton's fate, which was left unknown at the end of the previous novel, is resolved. We learn that he has been living on the island with a group of escaped convicts. Ayrton initially helps the convicts to capture the British sailors, but eventually he turns against them and helps the sailors to escape. Ayrton's character undergoes a significant change during the course of the two novels. In the first novel, he is a selfish and untrustworthy character. However, in the second novel, he becomes a more selfless and heroic figure. He is ultimately redeemed for his past crimes and becomes a valuable member of the group of British sailors. Ayrton is a