Ned Land
Ned Land is a master harpooner. He was most likely brought in due to Dr. Aronnax's theory that the creature was a great narhwal. The opposite of Dr. Aronnax, Land is the first to follow his gut and takes reality as what he sees to be the truth, instead of believing what others inform him. He is impulsive in his choices through the book, the first instance being when he told Captain Nemo that he refused to promise that he would not attempt an escape. While Dr. Aronnax wishes to study the ocean depths to their full potential, Land wishes to simply hunt the creatures that dwell in it. I believe through the journeys that they take in the Nautilus around the world strengthen his resolve to escape. Dr. Aronnax wished to persuade Captain Nemo to release them, a plan based on logic that would take to long and did not gaurentee results. It was Land's idea of an impromptu escape that truly led them to freedom.
“...I am not a butcher, I am a hunter and this was just butchers’
work.” - Ned Land