The King Is Dead! explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Power and Corruption

  Mo-sar and Lu-don manipulate the chaos following Ko-tan's death to seize power, using deceit and violence.

• Love and Loyalty

  Jane's loyalty to her husband contrasts with O-lo-a's defiance of forced marriage; Pan-at-lee's fierce defense of O-lo-a exemplifies loyalty.

• Gender and Agency

  O-lo-a asserts her authority as queen, while Jane and Pan-at-lee resist being treated as pawns in male power games.

Characters to notice

• Mo-sar

  Leads a faction in the palace fighting, then plots to kidnap O-lo-a and Jane Clayton for political gain.

• Bu-lot

  Son of Mo-sar; attempts to seize O-lo-a but is killed by Tarzan before he can harm Pan-at-lee.

• O-lo-a

  Princess of Pal-ul-don; resists Mo-sar's trickery and asserts her right as queen after Ko-tan's death.

• Jane Clayton

  Captured by Mo-sar in the palace; later escorted by Ja-don to O-lo-a's quarters, where she confides her unhappiness.

• Pan-at-lee

  Defends O-lo-a from Bu-lot; nearly killed before Tarzan intervenes.

• Tarzan

  Escapes the gryf pit by swimming through a submerged aperture; later kills Bu-lot to save Pan-at-lee.

• Ja-don

  Guides Jane through the temple and palace to O-lo-a's quarters, defying priests to ensure her safety.

• Lu-don

  High priest; plots revenge against Ja-don and Ko-tan, secretly supporting Mo-sar to gain power.

Key passages

• ““O-lo-a,” he cried, “when you know the urgency of our mission you will forgive us. We have sad news for you. There has been an uprising in the palace and Ko-tan, the king, has been slain. The rebels are drunk with liquor and now on their way here. We must get you out of A-lur at once⁠—there is not a moment to lose. Come, and quickly!””

  Mo-sar falsely tells O-lo-a that Ko-tan has been killed and rebels are approaching, urging her to flee immediately.

  Mo-sar uses deception to try to kidnap O-lo-a, exploiting the chaos after Ko-tan's death.

• ““Bu-lot,” he cried to his son, “take you your own woman and I will take⁠—mine!” and with that he sprang suddenly forward and seizing Jane about the waist lifted her in his arms, so that before O-lo-a or Pan-at-lee might even guess his purpose he had disappeared through the hangings near the foot of the dais and was gone with the stranger woman struggling and fighting in his grasp.”

  Mo-sar orders Bu-lot to seize O-lo-a while he grabs Jane, then flees with her.

  Mo-sar's abduction of Jane highlights his ruthless ambition and disregard for her autonomy.

• “The ape-man threw all the resources of his great strength into the last few strokes, extended his hands before him as a cutwater, submerged to the water’s level and shot forward toward the hole.”

  Tarzan uses all his strength to swim through a narrow underwater opening to escape the gryf.

  Tarzan's escape demonstrates his resourcefulness and physical prowess.