# XIX: Battling in the Arena explained — A Princess of Mars

> Chapter companion for A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

John Carter, imprisoned in a Warhoon dungeon, meets Kantos Kan, a Heliumite lieutenant. They are forced to fight in the arena against beasts and warriors. Carter and Kantos Kan stage a fake death to escape, with Carter feigning death and Kantos Kan winning freedom.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Adaptation

Carter and Kantos Kan use cunning and teamwork to survive the arena, adapting to the brutal conditions.

### Courage and Combat

Both characters display bravery and skill in the arena, facing overwhelming odds.

### Honor and Custom

The Warhoon customs of arena combat and the code of conduct among warriors are central to the chapter.

## Character check-ins

### John Carter

Imprisoned, then forced to fight in the arena; feigns death to escape.

### Kantos Kan

Fellow prisoner and Heliumite padwar; fights in the arena and wins freedom by feigning Carter's death.

### Dejah Thoris

Mentioned as having escaped with Sola; Kantos Kan believes she is safe.

### Sola

Mentioned as having escaped with Dejah Thoris.

### Dak Kova

Warhoon leader presiding over the arena games.

## Key lines

> Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt to remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as I reached out into the darkness to locate it I found to my horror that it was gone.

Carter calmed down and tried to take the keys from the dead jailer, but discovered the body had been dragged away by creatures in the dark.

_Highlights Carter's horror and the grim reality of his imprisonment._

> My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy of Helium.

Carter's cellmate was Kantos Kan, a Heliumite naval lieutenant.

_Introduces a key ally and source of information about Dejah Thoris._

> Kantos Kan and I were now pitted against each other but as we approached to the encounter I whispered to him to prolong the battle until nearly dark in the hope that we might find some means of escape.

Carter and Kantos Kan pretended to fight, stalling for time until darkness to plan an escape.

_Shows their cleverness and teamwork to survive the arena._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xix-battling-in-the-arena
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters