Jungle Tales of Tarzan · Chapter
VII: The End of Bukawai explained
Tarzan, now approaching maturity, often hunts alone and reflects on his solitude.
What happens
Tarzan, now approaching maturity, often hunts alone and reflects on his solitude. During a violent storm, he is struck by lightning and left unconscious. Meanwhile, Bukawai the witch-doctor, who harbors a grudge against Tarzan for humiliating him, sees an opportunity for revenge. The chapter also recounts Tarzan's childhood invention of swinging on a rope, a near-fatal fall, and his developing sense of humor, which sets him apart from the apes.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Instinct
Tarzan's jungle craft guides him to shelter during the storm, and his physical resilience saves him from a deadly fall.
Cruelty and Vengeance
Bukawai's long-nursed hatred and desire for revenge against Tarzan for humiliating him.
Curiosity and Knowledge
Tarzan's playful invention of swinging on a rope and his discovery of friction's effects, which later proves life-saving.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Hunts alone, reflects on solitude, is struck by lightning during a storm, and recalls childhood rope-swinging incident.
- Bukawai
The witch-doctor who nurses a grudge against Tarzan and sees the storm as an opportunity for revenge.
- Tublat
Tarzan's foster father, who hated him and was pleased when Tarzan fell from the rope.
- Kala
Tarzan's loving ape mother who rescued him after his fall from the rope.
- Kerchak
Leader of the ape tribe, mentioned as the apes of Kerchak.
Key passages
“Tarzan found in his own man-mind a greater and a truer companionship than any or all of the apes of Kerchak could afford him.”
Tarzan's own human mind provided him with better company than any of the apes could offer.
Highlights Tarzan's growing isolation and intellectual maturity.
“The thing which brought Tarzan most into disrepute with those who did not like him, was the possession and practice of a characteristic which they had not and could not understand—the human sense of humor.”
What made Tarzan disliked by some was his human sense of humor, which the apes could not comprehend.
Explains the unique trait that sets Tarzan apart from the apes.