# Tarzan the Terrible — Themes > Major themes in Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs. ## Survival and Adaptation The narrative repeatedly emphasizes the struggle for survival in a primitive, dangerous world, with characters like Tarzan and Jane using their wits, physical prowess, and resourcefulness to overcome predators, hostile tribes, and harsh environments. ### Where it surfaces - [The Pithecanthropus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/i-the-pithecanthropus): Tarzan adapts to a new, dangerous environment, using his jungle skills to hunt, find shelter, and fend off predators. The pithecanthropus also demonstrates adaptation to its environment. - [II: “To the Death!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/ii-to-the-death): Tarzan adapts to the strange creatures and environment of Pal-ul-don, learning their language and forming alliances to survive. - [III: Pan-at-lee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/iii-pan-at-lee): Tarzan adapts to the vertical cliff environment using pegs and his rope, while Om-at and Es-sat fight for survival and leadership. - [IV: Tarzan-jad-guru](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/iv-tarzan-jad-guru): Tarzan's tracking skills and the tribe's cliff-climbing techniques highlight adaptation to a hostile environment. - [In the Kor-ul-gryf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/v-in-the-kor-ul-gryf): Tarzan uses his jungle instincts to escape captivity and track Pan-at-lee, while Pan-at-lee hides and forages for food to survive. - [Tor-o-don](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/vi-tor-o-don): Tarzan and Pan-at-lee must use cunning and strength to survive attacks from the Tor-o-don and the gryf. ## Civilization vs. Primitivism The book contrasts the 'civilized' world with the primitive, lost land of Pal-ul-don, exploring themes of natural law, the corruption of organized religion, and the value of instinct and raw strength over artificial social structures. ### Where it surfaces - [The Pithecanthropus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/i-the-pithecanthropus): The contrast between Tarzan (a civilized man raised in the wild) and the pithecanthropus (a primitive, tailed humanoid) highlights the blurred line between human and animal, civilized and primitive. - [II: “To the Death!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/ii-to-the-death): Contrast between the city-dwelling Ho-don and the free, cave-dwelling Waz-don; Tarzan observes written language and racial distinctions among the pithecanthropi. - [III: Pan-at-lee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/iii-pan-at-lee): The chief-battle (gund-bar) and the use of natural weapons contrast with Tarzan's more 'civilized' rope technique, highlighting different codes of combat. - [Tor-o-don](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/vi-tor-o-don): Tarzan's primal instincts and physical prowess are contrasted with the primitive, beastlike Tor-o-don and the prehistoric gryf. - [Jungle Craft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/vii-jungle-craft): Tarzan is portrayed as unspoiled by civilization, contrasting with the 'weaklings' of modern society; Pan-at-lee's loyalty is described as 'primitive' and spontaneous. - [IX: Bloodstained Altars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/ix-bloodstained-altars): The Ho-don display advanced architecture and art yet practice brutal human sacrifice, blurring the line between civilized and primitive. ## Love and Loyalty The central plot is driven by Tarzan's unwavering love for his mate Jane, and the story highlights deep bonds of loyalty between friends and allies, such as Tarzan's relationships with Om-at and Ta-den. ### Where it surfaces - [II: “To the Death!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/ii-to-the-death): Ta-den's love for O-lo-a drives his exile; the three warriors swear a pact of loyalty 'To the death!' - [IV: Tarzan-jad-guru](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/iv-tarzan-jad-guru): Om-at's determination to find Pan-at-lee and the loyalty of In-sad and O-dan demonstrate bonds of love and allegiance. - [Jungle Craft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/vii-jungle-craft): Pan-at-lee's unwavering loyalty to Tarzan and Om-at drives her to wait and then risk the journey alone. - [The Giant Stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xii-the-giant-stranger): The stranger's determined search for Tarzan, driven by affection, is demonstrated through sign language and his refusal to harm Tarzan. - [The Masquerader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xiii-the-masquerader): O-lo-a's love for Ta-den and Pan-at-lee's loyalty to Tarzan drive key interactions in the chapter. - [The King Is Dead!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xv-the-king-is-dead): Jane's loyalty to her husband contrasts with O-lo-a's defiance of forced marriage; Pan-at-lee's fierce defense of O-lo-a exemplifies loyalty. ## Power and Corruption The political and religious struggles in Pal-ul-don, particularly involving the high priest Lu-don and the pretender Mo-sar, illustrate how the pursuit of power leads to manipulation, betrayal, and the perversion of justice. ### Where it surfaces - [III: Pan-at-lee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/iii-pan-at-lee): Es-sat's cowardly attempt to use a knife in a chief-battle shows the corruption of power, while Om-at's victory restores honor. - [IV: Tarzan-jad-guru](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/iv-tarzan-jad-guru): Om-at seizes power after Es-sat's death and immediately challenges corrupt traditions, asserting his authority to protect outsiders. - [A-lur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/viii-a-lur): Tarzan uses deception and the fear of divine wrath to assert authority over the Ho-don, demonstrating how power can be seized through manipulation. - [IX: Bloodstained Altars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/ix-bloodstained-altars): Lu-don and the priesthood wield absolute power through fear and superstition, using human sacrifice to maintain control. - [X: The Forbidden Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/x-the-forbidden-garden): Tarzan uses his assumed divine identity to challenge and redirect the corrupt religious practices of the Ho-don, exposing the priesthood's manipulation. - [The Sentence of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xi-the-sentence-of-death): Lu-don manipulates religious authority to condemn Tarzan, revealing the corrupt use of divine office for personal and institutional control. ## Identity and Belonging Tarzan is caught between his human heritage and his ape upbringing, and the story explores his search for his mate and his place in the world, while also examining the identities of the Ho-don and Waz-don tribes. ### Where it surfaces - [In the Kor-ul-gryf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/v-in-the-kor-ul-gryf): Tarzan's dual nature as both a civilized man and a wild beast is highlighted, as he adopts savage tactics yet thinks strategically. - [A-lur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/viii-a-lur): Tarzan's taillessness marks him as an outsider, but he exploits this difference to claim a divine identity, manipulating the Ho-don's beliefs to gain access. - [X: The Forbidden Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/x-the-forbidden-garden): Tarzan's disguise as Dor-ul-Otho creates tension between his true identity and the role imposed by others, while a slave's recognition threatens to expose him. - [The Lion Pit of Tu-lur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xviii-the-lion-pit-of-tu-lur): Tarzan's claim as Dor-ul-Otho is contested, creating tension between his perceived divine identity and mortal reality. - [XXI: The Maniac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xxi-the-maniac): Tarzan feels at home in the jungle, contrasting with Obergatz's fractured identity and loss of self. - [Glossary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/glossary): Naming conventions based on gender and species highlight how identity is defined within the culture. ## Colonialism and the 'Other' The depiction of Pal-ul-don as a 'primitive' land with tailed, semi-human inhabitants reflects early 20th-century colonial attitudes, including the tension between preserving untouched lands and the threat of 'civilized' exploitation. ## Religion and Superstition The elaborate rituals, sacrifices, and the false godhood of Tarzan (as Dor-ul-Otho) critique organized religion and superstition, showing how belief systems are used to control populations and justify cruelty. ### Where it surfaces - [A-lur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/viii-a-lur): The Ho-don's belief in Jad-ben-Otho and the significance of having or lacking a tail are central to Tarzan's ruse, highlighting the role of superstition in their society. - [IX: Bloodstained Altars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/ix-bloodstained-altars): The Ho-don's belief in Jad-ben-Otho and the necessity of blood sacrifices drives the plot, with Tarzan exploiting these superstitions for his own survival. - [X: The Forbidden Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/x-the-forbidden-garden): The chapter centers on the conflict between established sacrificial rites and Tarzan's reinterpretation of divine will, highlighting superstition's hold on the Ho-don. - [The Sentence of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xi-the-sentence-of-death): The trial hinges on claims of divinity and the expectation of divine intervention; Tarzan's challenge exposes the superstition underlying the priesthood's power. - [XXIV: The Messenger of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xxiv-the-messenger-of-death): The sacrificial ritual, the chanting priests, and the claim that Obergatz is Jad-ben-Otho illustrate the manipulation of religious belief for political ends. ## Gender and Agency Jane Clayton is portrayed as a capable, resourceful woman who learns to hunt, make fire, and survive alone, challenging traditional gender roles of the era, while characters like Pan-at-lee also demonstrate strength and independence. ### Where it surfaces - [XIV: The Temple of the Gryf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xiv-the-temple-of-the-gryf): Jane resists Lu-don's advances with defiance and courage, asserting her agency despite being physically trapped and without hope of rescue. - [The King Is Dead!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xv-the-king-is-dead): O-lo-a asserts her authority as queen, while Jane and Pan-at-lee resist being treated as pawns in male power games. - [By Jad-bal-lul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xvii-by-jad-bal-lul): Jane actively resists Mo-sar's captivity, escapes from Obergatz, and takes control of her own survival in the wilderness, defying the passive role often assigned to women. - [XIX: Diana of the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_the_terrible_se/chapters/xix-diana-of-the-jungle): Jane asserts her independence and authority, threatening Obergatz and defending her territory. 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