# VIII: The Dance of Death explained — The Beasts of Tarzan

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

## What happens

Tarzan is bound and subjected to a death dance by hostile natives, urged on by Rokoff. As the spears begin to pierce him, Sheeta the panther appears and kills one of the attackers, causing terror. The natives and whites eventually re-enter the hut, and Rokoff, seeing the corpse, insists on finishing Tarzan quickly. Tarzan recalls a similar rescue of D'Arnot and faces his fate with contempt for his captors.

## Themes in this chapter

### Savagery and Civilization

The chapter contrasts the 'civilized' cruelty of Rokoff with the 'savage' ritual of the native death dance, blurring the line between the two.

### Survival and Resilience

Tarzan endures physical torture and psychological torment from Rokoff, maintaining his composure and contempt despite imminent death.

### Good vs. Evil

Tarzan's defiant smile and past heroism stand against Rokoff's cowardly and vengeful cruelty, framing a clear moral conflict.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Bound and tortured during the death dance, he remains defiant and contemptuous, recalling his past rescue of D'Arnot.

### Nikolas Rokoff

Taunts and physically assaults Tarzan, revealing that Jane is in danger, but is restrained by the chief from killing the prisoner prematurely.

### Sheeta

Appears from the hut to defend Tarzan, kills a native, but later slinks away, leaving Tarzan bound.

### Jane Clayton

Mentioned by Rokoff as being in danger and far from safety in England, adding to Tarzan's torment.

### D'Arnot

Recalled in Tarzan's memory as someone he once rescued from a similar death dance.

## Key lines

> The spears were commencing to find his body in the first torturing pricks that prefaced the more serious thrusts.

The spears began to prick his skin, signaling the start of more severe wounds.

_Describes the initial stage of the death dance torture._

> Rokoff’s shrivelled wart of courage swelled to its usual proportions when danger was not present.

Rokoff's cowardice vanished when he felt safe, making him bold again.

_Highlights Rokoff's cowardly nature._

> The thought that these human fiends would devour him when the dance was done caused him not a single qualm of horror or disgust.

Tarzan felt no horror at the idea of being eaten, as he was accustomed to jungle predators consuming their kills.

_Shows Tarzan's unique perspective shaped by his jungle upbringing._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/viii-the-dance-of-death
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters