Tarzan the Terrible · Chapter
Silently in the Night explained
Tarzan is imprisoned in a lion pit in Tu-lur, where he works to escape by chipping away stone from the window bars.
What happens
Tarzan is imprisoned in a lion pit in Tu-lur, where he works to escape by chipping away stone from the window bars. Meanwhile, political machinations unfold as Mo-sar and Lu-don vie for power, and Pan-sat delivers a treacherous message to the high priest of Tu-lur, leading to an assassination attempt on Tarzan. Jane Clayton, now aware of Obergatz's presence, fears him more than wild beasts and resolves to kill him if he approaches again.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Corruption
Lu-don and Mo-sar's scheming for the throne, and the high priest's willingness to commit murder for advancement, highlight the corrupting influence of power.
Survival and Adaptation
Tarzan's patient escape work and Jane's resolve to defend herself against Obergatz demonstrate the theme of survival in a hostile environment.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Imprisoned in the lion pit at Tu-lur, he uses a knife to chip away stone from the window bars in a patient escape attempt.
- Mo-sar
Cunningly negotiates with Lu-don for the throne of Pal-ul-don, considering using Tarzan as a political pawn.
- Lu-don
The high priest at A-lur who wants Tarzan sacrificed publicly to bolster his waning authority; sends Pan-sat to Tu-lur with a treacherous plan.
- Jane Clayton
Living in a tree nest, she is terrified by Obergatz's return and resolves to kill him if he threatens her again.
- Erich Obergatz
The unscrupulous German lieutenant whose reappearance menaces Jane, described as unkempt and unnerving.
- Pan-sat
Lu-don's chief tool, delivers a deceptive message to the high priest of Tu-lur, inciting him to murder Tarzan and bring Mo-sar to A-lur.
Key passages
“What a paradise! And some day civilized man would come and—spoil it!”
Tarzan reflects on the pristine beauty of Pal-ul-don and fears its eventual destruction by civilization.
Highlights Tarzan's appreciation for the untouched wilderness and his critique of industrial progress.
“The standards by which the acts of such as you or I may be judged could not apply to hers.”
Jane's situation is so extreme that normal moral judgments do not apply; she must act as her own protector.
Emphasizes Jane's isolation and the necessity of self-reliance in the jungle.