Tarzan the Terrible · Chapter
XXI: The Maniac explained
Tarzan escapes from his prison cell and the palace grounds of Tu-lur, fighting off Ho-don warriors with clubs before fleeing into the forest.
What happens
Tarzan escapes from his prison cell and the palace grounds of Tu-lur, fighting off Ho-don warriors with clubs before fleeing into the forest. He plans to travel to A-lur to reunite with Jane. Meanwhile, a wounded and deranged Erich Obergatz, believing himself to be Jad-ben-Otho, wanders toward A-lur, shouting his delusion.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Adaptation
Tarzan uses his jungle skills and learned combat techniques to escape and navigate hostile territory.
Power and Corruption
Obergatz's delusion of being a god illustrates the corrupting influence of power and madness.
Identity and Belonging
Tarzan feels at home in the jungle, contrasting with Obergatz's fractured identity and loss of self.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Escapes from prison, fights Ho-don warriors, and flees into the forest toward A-lur.
- Jane Clayton
Mentioned in Tarzan's thoughts; she wounded Obergatz with a spear and plans to return home with Tarzan.
- Erich Obergatz
Crawls away wounded, becomes delusional, and proclaims himself Jad-ben-Otho while approaching A-lur.
- Mo-sar
Ruler of Tu-lur; Tarzan expects him to send warriors in pursuit.
- Om-at
Referenced as a source of Tarzan's knowledge of war club techniques.
- Ta-den
Referenced as a source of Tarzan's knowledge of war club techniques.
Key passages
“The forest and the jungle were his birthright. No creature that went upon the ground upon four feet, or climbed among the trees, or crawled upon its belly had any advantage over the ape-man in his native heath.”
Tarzan is unmatched in the jungle, his true home, where no animal can outdo him.
Highlights Tarzan's innate mastery of the wild.
“I am Jad-ben-Otho! Come hither slaves and take your god to his temple.”
Obergatz, in his madness, declares himself the supreme deity and demands worship.
Shows Obergatz's complete mental breakdown and delusion of grandeur.