# A Priestess but Yet a Woman explained — Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar > Chapter companion for Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs. ## What happens La, the High Priestess of Opar, is rescued by Tarzan after being chased by a mad elephant. She shows conflicting emotions of love and hatred toward Tarzan. Tarzan negotiates with the Oparian priests to allow La to return safely to Opar, threatening them with jungle creatures if they refuse. The priests agree, except for the jealous High Priest Cadj, who is forced to comply. Tarzan leaves La, who longs for his return, and returns to the jungle. Meanwhile, Tarzan discovers his stolen jewels are missing and tracks the thief, Albert Werper, through a village and into the jungle, where he also detects the scent of a woman that stirs a primal instinct. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Obsession La's intense and conflicting emotions for Tarzan, ranging from love to jealousy and revenge, illustrate the theme of obsessive love. ### Survival and Adaptation Tarzan's ability to navigate the jungle, track prey, and negotiate with the Oparians demonstrates his survival skills and adaptability. ### Vengeance and Justice Tarzan's pursuit of the thief who stole his jewels and his threat to Cadj reflect a personal quest for justice and vengeance. ## Character check-ins ### Tarzan Rescues La from a mad elephant, negotiates with Oparian priests, and later tracks the thief of his jewels. ### La High Priestess of Opar, saved by Tarzan; shows conflicting emotions of love and hatred, and longs for Tarzan's return. ### Cadj High Priest of Opar who opposes Tarzan's proposal due to jealousy over La, but is forced to comply by the other priests. ### Albert Werper The Belgian thief who stole Tarzan's jewels; Tarzan tracks his spoor through the village and into the jungle. ### Jane Clayton Mentioned as Lady Greystoke, waiting for Tarzan to rescue her from Achmet Zek. ## Key lines > A strange anomaly was La of Opar—a creature of circumstance torn by conflicting emotions. Now the cruel and bloodthirsty creature of a heartless god and again a melting woman filled with compassion and tenderness. La is a contradictory figure, sometimes cruel and bloodthirsty, other times compassionate and tender. _Highlights La's dual nature as both a priestess and a woman._ > Protect her so that when Tarzan comes again he will find La there to greet him. Tarzan commands the priests to protect La so that she will be alive when he returns. _Tarzan's threat to ensure La's safety._ > Through the trees raced Tarzan of the Apes until the darkness of night had settled upon the jungle, then he lay down and slept, with no thought beyond the morrow and with even La but the shadow of a memory within his consciousness. Tarzan quickly forgets La and focuses on his immediate needs, showing his primal nature. _Illustrates Tarzan's detachment and survival instinct._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xiv-a-priestess-but-yet-a-woman - 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