# XX explained — Tarzan and the Ant Men

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

## What happens

Tarzan clarifies his platonic love for Talaskar, while Komodoflorensal struggles with his feelings for her. The group escapes the cat pit with Zoanthrohago's help, and Janzara joins their escape plan. They seek refuge in a ratel's burrow, and Tarzan narrowly avoids a giant lion by diving into the hole.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Komodoflorensal's unrequited love for Talaskar and Zoanthrohago's sacrificial love for Janzara are central to the chapter.

### Survival and Adaptation

The group fights off carnivorous cats and later hides in a ratel's burrow to escape a giant lion, highlighting their adaptability.

### Deception and Manipulation

Janzara manipulates the guard into helping them escape, using her influence to blind him to their presence.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Clarifies his platonic love for Talaskar; leads the escape; dives into a ratel's burrow to avoid a giant lion.

### Komodoflorensal

Struggles with his love for Talaskar; helps fight the cats; plans escape with the group.

### Talaskar

Denies loving Tarzan; seizes a dagger to defend herself; joins the escape.

### Janzara

Helps the group escape by bribing a guard; joins the escape plan; expresses regret for her earlier actions.

### Zoanthrohago

Saves Janzara from the cats; reveals his love for her; suggests hiding in the ratel's burrow.

## Key lines

> On the contrary I love her very much; but not in the way that you have believed, or should I say feared? I love her because she is a good girl and a kind girl and a loyal friend, and also because she was in trouble and needed the love and protection which you and I alone could give her; but as a man loves his mate, I do not love her, for I have a mate of my own in my country beyond the thorns.

Tarzan explains to Komodoflorensal that he loves Talaskar platonically, as a friend and protector, not romantically, because he is already married to someone back home.

_Clarifies Tarzan's relationship with Talaskar and his fidelity to Lady Greystoke._

> I love you, Princess, as you have long known; but now it is too late, for tomorrow I die by the king's will.

Zoanthrohago confesses his love for Janzara but laments that he is to be executed the next day by her father's decree.

_Highlights Zoanthrohago's doomed love and the urgency of their escape._

## Links

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