# Escape explained — The Beasts of Tarzan

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

## What happens

Rokoff confronts Jane Clayton, believing the dead child in her arms is her son, and threatens to make her the wife of the cannibal chief M'ganwazam. Jane, knowing the child is not her own, feigns submission but later, in Rokoff's tent, knocks him unconscious with his own revolver and escapes into the dark jungle, determined to survive and find her way back to her real son.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Resilience

Jane Clayton's determination to escape and survive despite overwhelming odds, including the loss of her child and the threat of Rokoff, highlights her resilience.

### Good vs. Evil

The stark contrast between Jane's maternal love and moral strength versus Rokoff's cruelty and vindictiveness embodies the struggle between good and evil.

## Character check-ins

### Jane Clayton

Jane faces Rokoff's threats with numb resolve, knocks him unconscious, and flees into the jungle, clinging to hope for her real child.

### Nikolas Rokoff

Rokoff is enraged to find the child dead, threatens Jane with a fate worse than death, and is later knocked unconscious by her.

### M'ganwazam

The cannibal chief is mentioned as the intended foster parent for the child and the one to whom Rokoff plans to give Jane.

### Sven Anderssen

Anderssen is recalled as the one who placed the substitute baby in Jane's arms on the Kincaid, and is believed dead.

### Tarzan

Tarzan is remembered by Jane as her fearless protector; she mourns him as dead but clings to the hope that he might still be alive.

## Key lines

> You have robbed me of the child. I cannot make him the son of a cannibal chief, but I can make the mother the wife of a cannibal, and that I shall do—after I have finished with her myself.

Rokoff threatens to force Jane into marriage with a cannibal chief after he has abused her himself, as revenge for the child's death.

_This quote encapsulates Rokoff's vengeful and predatory nature._

> She did not dare fire for fear the shot would bring his people about him, and with Rokoff dead she would fall into hands no better than his and to a fate probably even worse than he alone could have imagined.

Jane refrains from shooting Rokoff because the noise would alert his men, leaving her at the mercy of even crueler captors.

_This shows Jane's strategic thinking under pressure._

> How different would it be now if she knew that he was somewhere there in the wilderness, seeking her! Then, indeed, would there be that for which to live, and every reason to believe that succour was close at hand—but he was dead!

Jane wishes Tarzan were alive and searching for her, as his presence would give her hope and safety, but she believes he is dead.

_This highlights Jane's emotional state and her reliance on Tarzan's strength._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xiii-escape
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters