Dirk Pitt - Themes

Themes

The most obvious theme of the novels are respect for, and the mystery of, the sea. It is clear that Cussler has gleaned such an appreciation from his personal life, and this is expressed continuously throughout each novel. It is not difficult to arrive at the conclusion that Cussler wishes a governmental organization such as "Fictional" NUMA (as described in the novels) existed to protect and explore the oceans, managed by a "can-do" person such as Sandecker. It is noted that Cussler formed an actual organization, called NUMA, which has a slightly different purpose. The Cussler "NUMA" is a non-profit company devoted to shipwreck exploration.

Another primary theme of the Dirk Pitt novels is that the merger and combination of the modern and the ancient are of value. Compare the ultra-modern computer lab run by Hiram Yeager to the unorganized book collection of St. Julien Perlmutter; both are used to the advantage of Dirk Pitt, even within the same novel. The technologically advanced NUMA scientific equipment is supplemented by classic cars and aircraft. The deep interest of Dirk Pitt in seeking out shipwrecks and solving old puzzles often leads to discoveries useful in the modern world. Characters in the novels explore and preserve history.

The books stress the sanctity of human life; the characters will spare no expense or personal sacrifice to save a single life, though the plots usually involve a range of events that affect thousands to the entire human population on Earth.