The Mark of Zorro · Chapter
XXXV: The Clash of Blades Again explained
Señor Zorro evades pursuit, then infiltrates the presidio to capture Captain Ramón.
What happens
Señor Zorro evades pursuit, then infiltrates the presidio to capture Captain Ramón. He forces the captain to confess his lies before the governor, then engages him in a duel and kills him with a thrust through the heart, leaving the Mark of Zorro on his brow.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Injustice
Zorro forces a confession from Captain Ramón, exposing the false accusations against the Pulidos and delivering a form of vigilante justice.
Cowardice vs. Courage
Captain Ramón's initial rage gives way to desperation as Zorro's superior skill and calm courage dominate the duel.
Rebellion and Resistance
Zorro openly defies the governor and military authority, killing a comandante and challenging the corrupt regime.
Characters to notice
- Señor Zorro
Executes his plan to confront Captain Ramón and the governor, forces a confession, and slays Ramón in a duel.
- Captain Ramón
Captured by Zorro, forced to confess his falsehoods, stripped of rank, and killed in a sword fight.
- Sergeant Pedro Gonzales
Not directly present in this chapter; mentioned only as part of the pursuit.
- Don Carlos Pulido
Referenced as the target of the governor's accusations; Zorro confirms his innocence.
- Señorita Lolita Pulido
Mentioned as the innocent girl insulted by Captain Ramón, and as the object of Zorro's love.
- Doña Catalina Pulido
Referenced as part of the Pulido family wrongly accused by the governor.
Key passages
“Fight, insulter of girls! Fight, man who tells a falsehood to injure a noble family! Fight, coward and poltroon!”
Zorro taunts Captain Ramón during their duel, accusing him of slandering the Pulidos and insulting Lolita.
Zorro's battle cry encapsulates his motive: defending honor and punishing deceit.
“The Mark of Zorro! You wear it forever now, comandante!”
After wounding Ramón between the eyes, Zorro declares the iconic Z-shaped scar as a permanent brand of shame.
This moment reinforces Zorro's signature and his role as a symbol of retribution.
“You have slain him! You have taken his life, wretch!”
The governor exclaims in horror as Zorro delivers the fatal thrust through Ramón's heart.
The governor's reaction highlights his helplessness and the collapse of his authority.