The Beasts of Tarzan · Chapter
Marooned explained
Tarzan is forced to write a large cheque under threat to his son's life, then is stripped and marooned on a jungle shore.
What happens
Tarzan is forced to write a large cheque under threat to his son's life, then is stripped and marooned on a jungle shore. He watches the Kincaid depart with Rokoff holding up his child in mockery. Meanwhile, Jane Clayton, having followed Tarzan to the ship, is captured aboard the Kincaid by Rokoff.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Resilience
Tarzan is stripped and abandoned on a hostile shore, forced to rely on his primal instincts to survive.
Family and Paternal Love
Tarzan's actions are driven by the threat to his son's life; Jane risks everything to find her husband and child.
Good vs. Evil
Rokoff and Paulvitch's cruel manipulation and threats contrast with Tarzan and Jane's desperate love and courage.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Forced to write a cheque, stripped, and marooned on a jungle shore; watches helplessly as Rokoff taunts him with his son.
- Jane Clayton
Follows Tarzan to the wharf, rows to the Kincaid, and is captured by Rokoff aboard the ship.
- Nikolas Rokoff
Taunts Tarzan from the Kincaid's deck while holding up Tarzan's son; also extracts a cheque from Jane under threat to her child.
- Alexander Paulvitch
Negotiates with Tarzan for the cheque and oversees his marooning.
Key passages
“I have at least one consolation—the knowledge that Jane is safe in London. Thank Heaven she, too, did not fall into the clutches of those villains.”
Tarzan takes comfort in believing Jane is safe in London, unaware she has actually followed him and been captured.
Dramatic irony: Tarzan's solace is false, as Jane is already aboard the Kincaid.
“You will give me the cheque I ask, or neither you nor your child nor your husband will ever again set foot within any port, civilized or otherwise.”
Rokoff threatens Jane that unless she writes the cheque, she, her son, and her husband will never reach a safe harbor.
Rokoff uses the threat of death or permanent exile to extort money from Jane.