# Tarzan Recovers His Reason explained — Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar

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

## What happens

Tarzan, still struggling with amnesia, begins to piece together fragments of his past as he encounters Werper, retrieves his stolen pouch, and experiences a gradual return of memory. He recalls a white woman and a pile of gold, and sets out to find answers. Meanwhile, he uses clever deception to mislead Abyssinian soldiers, and a mysterious jungle creature observes from the shadows.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Duality

Tarzan's struggle to reconcile his human past with his ape upbringing is central, as his memory slowly returns and he grapples with fragmented recollections.

### Survival and Adaptation

Tarzan's jungle skills—hunting, drinking alongside Numa, and using deception to escape—demonstrate his adaptability and primal instincts.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Continues his quest for identity, recovers his pouch, and experiences the first clear stirrings of memory regarding his past life and the white woman.

### Albert Werper

Captured by Tarzan and later taken prisoner by Abyssinian soldiers; participates in Tarzan's ruse involving a fake language.

### Numa

Encountered by Tarzan at the river; they drink side by side in a tense but peaceful moment.

### Chulk

Mentioned as a companion Tarzan seeks in the jungle.

## Key lines

> Slowly and painfully, recollection was attempting to reassert itself, the hurt brain was mending, as the cause of its recent failure to function was being slowly absorbed or removed by the healing processes of perfect circulation.

Tarzan's memory begins to heal as his brain recovers from injury, allowing fragmented past images to surface.

_This marks the turning point where Tarzan starts to regain his human identity._

> I am going to speak to you in a loud voice and in a tongue which you do not understand. Appear to listen intently to what I say, and occasionally mumble something as though replying in the same language—our escape may hinge upon the success of your efforts.

Tarzan instructs Werper to pretend they are conversing in a foreign language to deceive the soldiers.

_Demonstrates Tarzan's cunning and ability to manipulate others despite his amnesia._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xxii-tarzan-recovers-his-reason
- 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