# I: Belgian and Arab explained — Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar

> Chapter companion for Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

Lieutenant Albert Werper, a disgraced Belgian officer, murders his captain and a sentry before fleeing into the jungle. He is captured by the Arab raider Achmet Zek, but instead of being killed, he joins Zek's band. Over time, Werper gains Zek's trust, and the two conspire to kidnap Tarzan's wife for ransom or sale.

## Themes in this chapter

### Greed and Betrayal

Werper betrays his uniform and country, joining Achmet Zek for personal gain. The plot to kidnap Tarzan's wife is driven by greed for ransom.

### Colonialism and Otherness

The tension between European colonial forces (Belgian) and Arab raiders, with Werper crossing cultural lines to survive.

### Survival and Adaptation

Werper adapts to life among the Arab raiders, adopting their dress and customs to survive and gain influence.

## Character check-ins

### Albert Werper

A disgraced Belgian lieutenant who murders his captain and a sentry, then flees into the jungle. He joins Achmet Zek's band and conspires to kidnap Tarzan's wife.

### Achmet Zek

A notorious Arab raider who captures Werper but spares his life, eventually taking him into his confidence and plotting with him against Tarzan.

### Tarzan

Mentioned as a wealthy enemy of Achmet Zek, whose wife is the target of the kidnapping plot.

### Jane Clayton

Tarzan's wife, described as very beautiful, who is the intended victim of the kidnapping scheme.

## Key lines

> You have heard of the man men call Tarzan? ... He is very rich. If we could find some way to make him pay us many pieces of gold we should not only be avenged upon him; but repaid for much that he has prevented us from winning from the natives under his protection.

Achmet Zek proposes to Werper that they extort money from Tarzan as revenge for his interference with their slave and ivory trading.

_This conversation reveals the primary motivation for the plot against Tarzan._

> He has a wife, whom men say is very beautiful. She would bring a great price farther north, if we found it too difficult to collect ransom money from this Tarzan.

Achmet Zek suggests kidnapping Tarzan's wife to sell her into slavery if ransom cannot be obtained.

_This outlines the plan to target Jane Clayton._

> What good remained in Albert Werper revolted at the thought of selling a white woman into the slavery and degradation of a Muslim harem. He looked up at Achmet Zek. He saw the Arab's eyes narrow, and he guessed that the other had sensed his antagonism to the plan. What would it mean to Werper to refuse? His life lay in the hands of this semi-barbarian... Werper loved life.

Werper briefly hesitates at the immorality of the plan but quickly suppresses his conscience to save his own life.

_This shows Werper's moral weakness and his decision to prioritize survival over ethics._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/i-belgian-and-arab
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters