# Kidnapped explained — The Beasts of Tarzan

> Chapter companion for The Beasts of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

Lord Greystoke (Tarzan) learns that his arch-enemy Nikolas Rokoff has escaped from prison. Fearing for his family, he returns to London only to discover that his infant son Jack has been kidnapped. Following a mysterious phone call, Tarzan travels to Dover where he is lured aboard the steamer Kincaid by Alexis Paulvitch, only to be trapped in a hatch and imprisoned as the ship sets sail. Meanwhile, Jane Clayton, suspecting a trap, follows separately.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family and Paternal Love

Tarzan's immediate return to London and his desperate mission to rescue his son demonstrate the depth of his paternal love.

### Revenge and Retribution

Rokoff's escape and kidnapping plot are driven by a desire for revenge against Tarzan.

### Survival and Resilience

Tarzan's calm, patient reaction to being trapped reflects his jungle-honed resilience.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Learns of Rokoff's escape and later falls into a trap while attempting to rescue his son.

### Jane Clayton

Reports the kidnapping of Jack and later follows Tarzan to Dover out of suspicion.

### Nikolas Rokoff

Has escaped from prison and is orchestrating the kidnapping plot.

### Alexander Paulvitch

Disguised and acting as the guide who lures Tarzan onto the Kincaid.

### D'Arnot

Informs Tarzan of Rokoff's escape in Paris.

### Jack Clayton

The infant son who is kidnapped from the garden.

## Key lines

> The entire affair is shrouded in mystery... I have it on the best of authority that neither the police nor the special agents of the general staff have the faintest conception of how it was accomplished.

D'Arnot tells Tarzan that Rokoff's escape is a complete mystery to the authorities.

_Sets the stage for Rokoff's cunning and the danger he poses._

> Jack stolen from the garden through complicity of new servant. Come at once. Jane.

Jane's telegram informs Tarzan that their son has been kidnapped with the help of a servant.

_The inciting incident that drives Tarzan's actions._

> Scarcely had he released his hold upon the edge of the hatch than the heavy covering fell clattering above him. Instantly he knew that he was the victim of a plot...

As Tarzan descends into the hatch, it is slammed shut, trapping him.

_Climactic moment of Tarzan's capture aboard the Kincaid._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/i-kidnapped
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters