The Beasts of Tarzan · Chapter
Beasts at Bay explained
Tarzan reads Rokoff's note revealing his plot to have Tarzan's son raised by cannibals and his wife endangered.
What happens
Tarzan reads Rokoff's note revealing his plot to have Tarzan's son raised by cannibals and his wife endangered. Enraged and grieving, Tarzan is attacked by a bull ape named Molak, whom he kills. He then faces Akut, the new king, and forces his surrender without taking the kingship. Alone and weaponless, Tarzan fashions a stone knife, builds a bow and arrows, and constructs a shelter. He returns to his jungle instincts, hunting for food and preparing for the dangers ahead.
Themes in this chapter
Savagery and Civilization
Tarzan sheds his civilized veneer and reverts to his jungle instincts, fighting as a beast and embracing his primal nature.
Survival and Resilience
Despite being wounded and alone, Tarzan fashions tools, builds a shelter, and prepares to survive in the jungle.
Revenge and Retribution
Rokoff's note reveals his elaborate revenge plot against Tarzan, targeting his son and wife.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Reads Rokoff's note, fights and kills Molak, subdues Akut, and begins fashioning weapons and a shelter.
- Akut
The new king of the ape tribe after Molak's death; Tarzan forces his surrender but allows him to remain king.
- Nikolas Rokoff
Revealed through his note as the mastermind behind the plot against Tarzan's son and wife.
- Sheeta
Mentioned as a threat in the jungle, along with Numa the lion.
- Numa
Mentioned as a threat in the jungle, along with Sheeta the panther.
Key passages
“This will explain to you the exact nature of my intentions relative to your offspring and to you. You were born an ape. You lived naked in the jungles—to your own we have returned you; but your son shall rise a step above his sire.”
Rokoff's letter details his plan: Tarzan, raised as an ape, is returned to the jungle, but his son will be raised by cannibals to become a 'man' in a savage tribe.
Rokoff's note outlines his twisted revenge, aiming to make Tarzan suffer through the fate of his son.
“As he finished reading, a slight sound behind him brought him back with a start to the world of present realities. Instantly his senses awoke, and he was again Tarzan of the Apes.”
The sound of an approaching ape snaps Tarzan out of his grief and back into his primal survival instincts.
Tarzan's immediate shift from sorrow to alertness shows his deep connection to the jungle.
“Once again he was the jungle beast revelling in bloody conflict with his kind. Once again he was Tarzan, son of Kala the she-ape.”
Tarzan fully embraces his feral nature during the fight, abandoning all pretense of civilization.
This highlights the theme of savagery versus civilization as Tarzan reverts to his true self.