# The Castaways explained — The Return of Tarzan

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

## What happens

Clayton, Jane Porter, and Monsieur Thuran survive a month on a jungle beach, building a tree shelter and struggling for food. Thuran's true character emerges as selfish, cowardly, and menacing, leading to conflicts with Clayton. Jane reflects on Tarzan's bravery and rejects Thuran's slander. A lion attack nearly kills them, but a mysterious spear fells the beast. In the aftermath, Jane breaks her engagement to Clayton, declaring she cannot marry a less brave man. Meanwhile, the other castaways from the Lady Alice, including Lord Tennington's well-armed party, camp a few miles north, unaware of the trio's plight.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Physical Prowess

The castaways struggle to find food, build shelter, and defend against predators, highlighting the contrast between civilized weakness and jungle harshness.

### Love and Sacrifice

Jane breaks her engagement out of loyalty to her love for Tarzan, sacrificing social convention for emotional truth.

### Deception and Betrayal

Thuran lies about Tarzan's character to slander him and manipulate Jane, revealing his own treachery.

## Character check-ins

### Jane Porter

Breaks her engagement to Clayton after a lion attack, realizing she cannot marry a less brave man than Tarzan.

### William Cecil Clayton

Struggles to protect Jane from Thuran and the jungle; his cowardice during the lion attack leads to Jane ending their engagement.

### Monsieur Thuran

Reveals his selfish, cowardly, and lustful nature; slanders Tarzan to Jane and faints during the lion attack.

### Tarzan

Mentioned by Jane as the bravest man she ever knew; his cabin lies five miles north, unknown to the castaways.

### Lord Tennington

Leads the well-armed party of eighteen castaways from the Lady Alice, maintaining order and hope.

### Professor Archimedes Q. Porter

Oblivious to danger, he rows out to sea to consult a scientific monograph, requiring rescue by Mr. Philander.

## Key lines

> The only real man, I think, that I have ever known.

Jane declares that Tarzan is the only truly admirable man she has ever met.

_Jane contrasts Tarzan's bravery with the cowardice of Clayton and Thuran._

> I have lived a thousand years in the past brief moments. I have learned in the face of death how to live.

Jane says the near-death experience has given her clarity about her life and feelings.

_She uses this insight to break her engagement to Clayton._

> Never has Professor Porter been more difficult—er—I might say, impossible.

Mr. Philander complains that Professor Porter's behavior is more troublesome than ever.

_Philander recounts Porter's absurd attempt to row to New York for a scientific pamphlet._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxi-the-castaways
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters