The Gods of Mars · Chapter
Flight and Pursuit explained
John Carter, Tars Tarkas, and their companions escape from the dead city of the Warhoons, steal thoats, and flee across a dead sea bottom.
What happens
John Carter, Tars Tarkas, and their companions escape from the dead city of the Warhoons, steal thoats, and flee across a dead sea bottom. They are pursued by a large force of green Martian warriors. Thuvia sacrifices herself to lighten John Carter's mount, but Carthoris rescues her. Just as the Warhoons close in, a battleship arrives and scatters the pursuers with shellfire. The chapter also includes a flashback to John Carter's earlier rescue of Tars Tarkas from the pits, where he impersonates a Warhoon jailer.
Themes in this chapter
Heroism and Honor
Thuvia's self-sacrifice, Carthoris's chivalrous rescue, and John Carter's refusal to abandon her highlight heroic ideals.
Love and Sacrifice
Thuvia's kiss and deliberate fall to save John Carter exemplify love-driven sacrifice.
Alien Nature and Survival
The flight across the dead sea bottom and reliance on thoats for survival emphasize the harsh Martian environment.
Characters to notice
- John Carter
Leads the escape, rescues Thuvia, and later rescues Tars Tarkas from the pits.
- Tars Tarkas
Assists in stealing thoats and is rescued by John Carter from imprisonment.
- Thuvia
Sacrifices herself by slipping from the thoat to lighten John Carter's mount, but is rescued by Carthoris.
- Carthoris
Displays chivalry by rescuing Thuvia and giving her his mount.
- Xodar
Rides with the party and charges to support John Carter against the Warhoons.
Key passages
“Then her arms slipped from about my waist and she was gone. I turned and saw that she had deliberately slipped to the ground in the very path of the cruel demons who pursued us, thinking that by lightening the burden of my mount it might thus be enabled to bear me to the safety of the hills.”
Thuvia let go of John Carter and jumped off the thoat into the path of the pursuing Warhoons, hoping that reducing the weight would allow his mount to reach the hills safely.
Thuvia's self-sacrificial act to save John Carter.
“The brave boy's act of chivalrous self-sacrifice filled me with pride, nor did I care that it had wrested from us our last frail chance for escape.”
John Carter felt proud of Carthoris's noble decision to give his mount to Thuvia, even though it cost them their last hope of escape.
Carthoris's chivalry in rescuing Thuvia.