# XIX explained — Tarzan and the Ant Men

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

## What happens

Tarzan rejects Princess Janzara's advances, leading her to trap him in a pit with giant wild cats. Komodoflorensal and Talaskar follow, and a fight ensues. Talaskar and Janzara struggle, both falling into the pit. The men are saved by a prisoner who lets them into an adjoining cell. Meanwhile, Korak and the Waziri search for Tarzan. The trio discovers a hidden passage and a woman's voice.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Janzara's obsessive love leads to betrayal and violence; Talaskar's loyalty is tested.

### Deception and Manipulation

Janzara feigns help to trap Tarzan; hidden passages and secret panels underscore the theme.

### Survival and Adaptation

Tarzan and Komodoflorensal fight giant cats; the trio navigates treacherous underground passages.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Rejects Janzara's love, is trapped in a pit with giant cats, and later explores a hidden passage.

### Janzara

Princess of Veltopismakus who professes love for Tarzan, then traps him out of jealousy.

### Komodoflorensal

Follows Tarzan into the pit and helps fight off the cats.

### Talaskar

Slave girl who fights Janzara and falls into the pit with her.

### Korak

Tarzan's son, who leads a search party for his missing father.

### The Waziri

Warriors who accompany Korak in the search for Tarzan.

## Key lines

> “You do not understand, Princess,” he told her. “You are my prisoner. You are coming with me.” “Yes,” she breathed, “I am your prisoner, but it is you who do not understand. I love you. It is my right to choose whatever slave I will to be my prince. I have chosen you.”

Tarzan tells Janzara she is his prisoner, but she insists she loves him and claims the right to choose him as her prince.

_Highlights the power struggle and Janzara's delusional affection._

> “If you will not come to me you shall never go to another!” she screamed, and then she turned and saw Komodoflorensal and Talaskar running toward her.

Janzara declares that if Tarzan won't be hers, he will belong to no one, then notices the others approaching.

_Shows Janzara's possessive and vengeful nature._

> “It is pitch black beyond,” he said. “Whoever owns that voice is in another chamber beyond that into which I was just looking. There was no human being in the next apartment.” “If it was absolutely dark, how could you know that?” demanded Komodoflorensal. “Had there been anyone there I should have smelled him,” replied the ape-man.

Tarzan explains he can detect the absence of human scent in the dark chamber, astonishing his companions.

_Demonstrates Tarzan's acute jungle senses even in a foreign environment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_ant_men_se/chapters/xix
- 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