# The Palace of Mu Tel explained — The Master Mind of Mars > Chapter companion for The Master Mind of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. ## What happens Vad Varo and his companions are rescued by Prince Mu Tel, who offers them a flier and assistance to reach Phundahl. Mu Tel discusses his political ambitions against his uncle Vobis Kan, and the Toonolian philosophy of pragmatism and denial of sentiment. Vad Varo reflects on the paradoxes of Toonolian character, particularly in Gor Hajus. The chapter ends with their departure under cover of darkness. ## Themes in this chapter ### Power and Corruption Mu Tel plots to overthrow his uncle Vobis Kan, whom he describes as a conscienceless tyrant, revealing the corrupting influence of power and the political machinations within Toonol. ### Science vs. Sentiment The Toonolians deny sentiment and worship science as a fetish, yet Gor Hajus exhibits hidden sentiment and loyalty, highlighting the tension between rationalism and human emotion. ### Alienation and Belonging Vad Varo, a white-skinned Earthman, must be stained copper-red to avoid notice, emphasizing his alienation on Barsoom and his need to belong to succeed in his mission. ## Character check-ins ### Mu Tel Prince of the House of Kan, nephew of Vobis Kan, offers Vad Varo a flier and assistance, reveals his ambition to seize the throne. ### Gor Hajus Accompanies Vad Varo, is offered a high place by Mu Tel but prioritizes his obligations to Vad Varo; noted for his popularity among soldiers and his hidden sentiment. ### Dar Tarus Travels with Vad Varo and Gor Hajus, receives harness and weapons from Mu Tel. ### Hovan Du The ape-man, given a collar and chain, provided with raw meat for the journey. ### Vad Varo The protagonist from Earth, disguised with copper-red stain, receives a flier from Mu Tel to reach Phundahl and restore Valla Dia's body. ### Vobis Kan Jeddak of Toonol, uncle of Mu Tel, described as a conscienceless tyrant and the target of Mu Tel's ambition. ## Key lines > It is because of this that I long since offered my friendship to Gor Hajus; not that he might slay my uncle, but that when I had slain him in fair fight Gor Hajus might win to me the loyalty of the Jeddak’s warriors, for great is the popularity of Gor Hajus among the soldiers, who ever look up to such a great fighter with reverence and devotion. Mu Tel explains that he befriended Gor Hajus not to assassinate his uncle, but to secure the loyalty of the army after he kills Vobis Kan in a fair duel, leveraging Gor Hajus's popularity with the soldiers. _Mu Tel reveals his strategic political plan to gain the throne through Gor Hajus's influence._ > They believe that no good deed was ever performed except for a selfish motive; they have no god and no religion; they believe, as do all educated Barsoomians, that man came originally from the Tree of Life, but unlike most of their fellows they do not believe that an omnipotent being created the Tree of Life. The Toonolians hold that all actions are selfishly motivated, reject religion and a creator god, and accept the scientific origin of life from the Tree of Life without divine intervention. _Describes the atheistic and pragmatic philosophy of Toonol._ > They denied deity, and in the same breath worshiped the fetish of science that they had permitted to obsess them quite as harmfully as do religious fanatics accept the unreasoning rule of their imaginary gods; and so, with all their vaunted knowledge, they were unintelligent because unbalanced. Vad Varo observes that the Toonolians, while rejecting gods, have become fanatically devoted to science, making them as unbalanced as religious zealots despite their knowledge. _Vad Varo critiques the Toonolian obsession with science as a form of irrational worship._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_master_mind_of_mars_se/chapters/ix-the-palace-of-mu-tel - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_master_mind_of_mars_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_master_mind_of_mars_se/chapters