The Moon Maid · Chapter
Back to "The Barsoom" explained
Julian 5th recounts his desperate pursuit of The Barsoom after being left behind, culminating in a dramatic reunion with his crew thanks to Norton's intervention.
What happens
Julian 5th recounts his desperate pursuit of The Barsoom after being left behind, culminating in a dramatic reunion with his crew thanks to Norton's intervention. The narrative then shifts to a conversation in Paris where the storyteller reveals that Julian 5th returned to Earth in 2036 with his wife Nah-ee-lah. The chapter also includes a tender love confession between Julian and Nah-ee-lah amid the destruction of Laythe, where they discover her mother's suicide over Sagroth's body.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
Julian and Nah-ee-lah confess their love for each other amid the destruction of Laythe, and Nah-ee-lah's mother sacrifices herself in grief over Sagroth's death.
Survival and Resilience
Julian's relentless pursuit of The Barsoom despite exhaustion and the crew's determination to return to Earth highlight themes of survival.
Technology as a Tool of Destruction
Orthis uses modern agents of destruction against Laythe, and the fire consuming the city is fueled by flammable materials.
Reincarnation and the Illusion of Time
The narrator discusses his third incarnation and the difficulty of distinguishing between lives, and Nah-ee-lah hopes to live together in a new incarnation.
Characters to notice
- Julian 5th
Narrates his pursuit of The Barsoom, reunites with his crew, and confesses his love to Nah-ee-lah.
- Nah-ee-lah
Flies with Julian, mourns her mother's suicide, and reciprocates Julian's love.
- Norton
Saves Julian by striking aside West's revolver and reveals he repaired the engine using information from Orthis.
- West
Initially aims a revolver at Julian but is stopped by Norton.
- Jay
Present on The Barsoom's deck during Julian's return.
- Orthis
Mentioned as the source of engine repair knowledge and as a threat to Laythe with modern agents of destruction.
- Sagroth
Found dead in the audience chamber, with Nah-ee-lah's mother lying across his body.
- Mother
Nah-ee-lah's mother, found dead by her own hand across Sagroth's body.
Key passages
“one of the many vicissitudes and dangers through which I had passed since I left Earth depressed me more than the sight of The Barsoom forging slowly past us without speaking.”
Seeing The Barsoom sail past without stopping was more disheartening than any other danger I had faced since leaving Earth.
Julian expresses his despair at being left behind by his ship.
“I shall not give it up, Nah-ee-lah," I cried. "I am going to follow The Barsoom until we find it, or until we die in the attempt.”
I vowed to pursue The Barsoom until we either found it or died trying.
Julian's determination to reunite with his ship and crew.
“My God, sir!" I heard the boy cry, "it is the Captain." And then they all recognized me, and an instant later I almost collapsed as I fell to the deck of my beloved ship.”
Norton shouted that I was the captain, and after they recognized me, I collapsed onto the deck.
The moment of Julian's rescue and reunion with his crew.
“I mean, Nah-ee-lah, that I love you," I replied, though I must have stumbled through the words in a most ridiculous manner, so frightened was I.”
I confessed my love to Nah-ee-lah, stumbling over the words because I was so nervous.
Julian's awkward but heartfelt love confession.
“Now," she said, "I do not care what happens. We have one another, and if we die together, doubtless we shall live together in a new incarnation."”
Nah-ee-lah said that with their love, death no longer mattered, as they would be reborn together.
Nah-ee-lah's acceptance of death through the hope of reincarnation.
