# XXIII explained — The Son of Tarzan

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

## What happens

Meriem is recaptured by Sheik Amor ben Khatour, who recognizes her and subjects her to brutal treatment. Malbihn, seeing the Sheik, flees. Meriem is taken to the Sheik's village, where she reflects on her past with Korak and her conflicted feelings for Morison Baynes. Meanwhile, Baynes, wounded and adrift in a canoe, resolves to rescue Meriem, having undergone a moral transformation.

## Themes in this chapter

### Freedom vs. Confinement

Meriem is physically confined within the Sheik's stockade, contrasting with her earlier freedom in the jungle.

### Love and Sacrifice

Baynes undergoes a moral transformation, willing to sacrifice himself to rescue Meriem out of newfound love and honor.

### Identity and Belonging

Meriem struggles with her identity, caught between her past with Korak and the allure of a civilized life with Baynes.

## Character check-ins

### Meriem

Recaptured by Sheik Amor ben Khatour, subjected to physical abuse and humiliation, and brought back to the village of her childhood.

### Sheik Amor ben Khatour

Recognizes and recaptures Meriem, brutally mistreats her, and orders an ambush for Malbihn.

### Malbihn

Sees the Sheik and flees in fear, abandoning his pursuit of Meriem.

### Morison Baynes

Wounded and adrift in a canoe, experiences a moral transformation and resolves to rescue Meriem.

### Mabunu

Meriem's former nurse, appears in the Sheik's village and grimaces in false welcome.

### Abdul Kamak

A young Arab who stares at Meriem with admiration until ordered away by the Sheik.

## Key lines

> At the first opportunity he struck her a heavy blow across the face. He forced her to walk when he might have dismounted one of his men instead, or had her carried on a horse’s rump. He seemed to revel in the discovery of new methods for torturing or humiliating her.

The Sheik immediately began abusing Meriem, hitting her and making her walk instead of ride, taking pleasure in finding new ways to torment her.

_Illustrates the Sheik's cruelty and Meriem's suffering._

> The Hon. Morison Baynes did not fully realize the change that had taken place within him. Had one suggested that he ever had been aught than the soul of honor and chivalry he would have taken umbrage forthwith.

Baynes was unaware of his own moral transformation, and would have been offended if anyone had suggested he was not always honorable.

_Highlights Baynes's self-deception and his genuine change of heart._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters