# Chapter X explained — Tarzan and the Ant Men

> Chapter companion for Tarzan and the Ant Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

Esteban Miranda regains consciousness with a head wound and no memory, wandering aimlessly through the jungle as a hollow shell of a man. Meanwhile, in Veltopismakus, Princess Janzara is denied the purchase of Tarzan as a slave by her father King Elkomoelhago, who orders Tarzan sent to the quarries. The king's councilors, including Gefasto and Gofoloso, privately criticize the king's vanity and misrule, discussing the corruption and decay of their society.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Impersonation

Esteban Miranda loses all sense of self, becoming a hollow shell who moves and acts without conscious identity.

### Power and Hierarchy

King Elkomoelhago's absolute rule is challenged by his councilors, revealing the fragility and corruption of power structures.

### Deception and Manipulation

Councilors like Vestako use bribery and threats to maintain influence, while the king manipulates appointments to ensure pliability.

## Character check-ins

### Esteban Miranda

Regains consciousness with amnesia after a head wound, wanders the jungle without memory or identity, a living dead man.

### Tarzan

Captured and brought before King Elkomoelhago, who orders him sent to the quarries but not overworked.

### Janzara

Princess of Veltopismakus, angered that her father refuses to let her purchase Tarzan as a slave; vows to own and kill him anyway.

### Elkomoelhago

King of Veltopismakus, vain and arrogant, orders Tarzan to the quarries and dismisses his daughter's wishes.

### Gefasto

Chief of Warriors, critical of the king's rule, discusses the corruption and decay of Veltopismakus with Gofoloso.

### Gofoloso

Chief of Chiefs, agrees with Gefasto about the kingdom's decline and the king's misrule.

### Vestako

Chief of the Royal Dome, known for bribe-taking and self-interest, threatens to expose his fellow councilors.

### Throwaldo

Chief of Agriculture, part of the corrupt council, pays Vestako for silence.

## Key lines

> Uhha had killed his objective mind. His brain was but a storehouse of memories that would never again be raised above the threshold of consciousness.

Uhha destroyed Esteban's conscious mind, leaving him with only automatic responses to stimuli.

_Describes Esteban's complete loss of memory and reasoning ability._

> The Princess Janzara of Veltopismakus did not purchase the slave of Zoanthrohago. Her father, the king, would not permit it...

King Elkomoelhago forbade his daughter Janzara from buying Tarzan as a slave.

_Sets up Janzara's defiance and Tarzan's fate in the quarries._

> Low indeed have fallen the fortunes of Veltopismakus... By Vestako's infamy. He cares neither for king nor for people.

Gefasto laments the corruption of Vestako, who would betray anyone for personal gain.

_Highlights the moral decay among the king's councilors._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_ant_men_se/chapters/x
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_ant_men_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_ant_men_se/chapters