# XVIII: The Jungle Toll explained — Tarzan of the Apes

> Chapter companion for Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

Tarzan awakens and rereads Jane Porter's letter, struggling to decipher the handwriting but eventually succeeding. He learns about the party's background, their perilous journey, and their fear of the mysterious 'Tarzan of the Apes.' Determined to provide for them, he leaves game at the cabin daily. After writing a love note to Jane, he hears a woman's scream and dashes into the jungle, leaving the note behind. Clayton, Professor Porter, and Mr. Philander find Esmeralda unconscious, and she revives to describe a terrifying encounter with a 'great, hairy giant,' revealing that Jane has been taken by an ape.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Instinct

Tarzan's instinctive devotion to Jane drives him to provide for her and risk his life to rescue her.

### Survival and Strength

The stranded party struggles to survive in the jungle, relying on Tarzan's hunting and their own wits.

### Savagery and Brutality

The jungle's constant threats—lions, apes, and the raw violence of nature—are vividly depicted through the attack on Jane.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Reads Jane's letter, writes a love message, and rushes to rescue Jane after hearing her scream.

### Jane Porter

Wrote the letter to Hazel Strong; is captured by an ape while gathering fruit.

### Esmeralda

Found unconscious after the attack; revives and describes the 'great, hairy giant' that took Jane.

### John Clayton

Leads the search for Jane; finds Esmeralda and tries to revive her.

### Professor Porter

Wanders the jungle with Mr. Philander; joins the search for Jane.

### Samuel T. Philander

Accompanies Professor Porter; is worn out from worry and effort.

## Key lines

> I am Tarzan of the Apes. I want you. I am yours. You are mine. We live here together always in my house.

Tarzan declares his love and ownership of Jane, envisioning a life together in the jungle.

_Tarzan's first love letter to Jane, expressing his primal yet sincere affection._

> O Gaberelle! I want to die! ... Let me die, dear Lord, don't let me see that awful face again.

Esmeralda, terrified, begs to die rather than face the memory of the ape that took Jane.

_Esmeralda's hysterical reaction upon waking from her faint._

> And to think that uncanny thing was probably watching me all the time that I was writing—oo! It makes me shudder just to think of it.

Jane shudders at the thought that Tarzan was secretly observing her while she wrote her letter.

_Jane's reaction to discovering Tarzan's printed response on her letter._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xviii-the-jungle-toll
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters