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Excerpt ​

Excerpt from The Return of Tarzan, by Edgar Rice Burroughs

“You must not reproach yourself, my dear Miss Strong,” urged Monsieur
Thuran. “It was in no way your fault. Another would have done as you
did. Who would think that because something fell into the sea from a
ship that it must necessarily be a man? Nor would the outcome have been
different had you given an alarm. For a while they would have doubted
your story, thinking it but the nervous hallucination of a woman—had
you insisted it would have been too late to have rescued him by the
time the ship could have been brought to a stop, and the boats lowered
and rowed back miles in search of the unknown spot where the tragedy
had occurred. No, you must not censure yourself. You have done more
than any other of us for poor Mr. Caldwell—you were the only one to
miss him. It was you who instituted the search.”

The girl could not help but feel grateful to him for his kind and
encouraging words. He was with her often—almost constantly for the
remainder of the voyage—and she grew to like him very much indeed.
Monsieur Thuran had learned that the beautiful Miss Strong, of
Baltimore, was an American heiress—a very wealthy girl in her own
right, and with future prospects that quite took his breath away when
he contemplated them, and since he spent most of his time in that
delectable pastime it is a wonder that he breathed at all.

It had been Monsieur Thuran’s intention to leave the ship at the first
port they touched after the disappearance of Tarzan. Did he not have in
his coat pocket the thing he had taken passage upon this very boat to
obtain? There was nothing more to detain him here. He could not return
to the Continent fast enough, that he might board the first express for
St. Petersburg.

Explanation ​

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs ​

This passage from The Return of Tarzan (1913), the second book in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan series, is a key moment in the novel’s early plot development. It introduces Monsieur Thuran, a manipulative antagonist, and Miss Strong, a wealthy American heiress, while subtly foreshadowing Thuran’s true intentions. Below is a breakdown of the excerpt, focusing on its context, themes, literary devices, character dynamics, and significance—primarily through close analysis of the text itself.

1. Context Within the Novel ​

  • Plot Background: The novel follows Tarzan, who, after renouncing his claim to the Greystoke fortune in Tarzan of the Apes, returns to civilization. Early in the story, he is traveling on a ship when he is thrown overboard (likely by Thuran, though this is not yet revealed). Miss Strong is the only one who notices his disappearance but does not immediately raise the alarm.
  • Thuran’s Role: Thuran is a Russian spy and villain who has stolen something from Tarzan (later revealed to be a cipher document related to international espionage). His presence on the ship is no coincidence—he has been tracking Tarzan.
  • Miss Strong’s Position: She is a wealthy, naive American heiress who becomes a pawn in Thuran’s schemes. Her guilt over not acting swiftly enough to save Tarzan makes her vulnerable to Thuran’s manipulation.

2. Themes in the Excerpt ​

A. Deception and Manipulation ​

  • Thuran’s speech to Miss Strong is superficially comforting but strategically calculated.
    • He absolves her of guilt ("You must not reproach yourself"), making her emotionally dependent on him.
    • He rationalizes inaction ("another would have done as you did"), ensuring she does not question her own passivity—or his role in Tarzan’s disappearance.
    • His false empathy ("you were the only one to miss him") flatters her while subtly implying that others (like the crew) are incompetent.
  • The narrator reveals Thuran’s true motives: he is not genuinely concerned for Miss Strong but is assessing her wealth ("future prospects that quite took his breath away").

B. Wealth and Exploitation ​

  • Miss Strong’s social and financial status makes her a target.
    • Thuran’s internal monologue exposes his greed and opportunism: he is more interested in her money than her well-being.
    • The phrase "it is a wonder that he breathed at all" is sarcastic, emphasizing his obsession with her fortune.
  • This reflects a broader theme in Burroughs’ work: the corrupting influence of wealth and power, where characters like Thuran see people as means to an end.

C. Gender and Perception ​

  • Thuran’s speech is condescending toward women:
    • He assumes her alarm would have been dismissed as "the nervous hallucination of a woman," reinforcing 19th/early 20th-century stereotypes about female hysteria.
    • His paternalistic tone ("my dear Miss Strong") positions himself as a protector, while actually exploiting her vulnerability.
  • Miss Strong’s gratefulness ("she could not help but feel grateful") shows how social conditioning makes her susceptible to manipulation.

D. Fate and Helplessness ​

  • The passage emphasizes the inevitability of Tarzan’s disappearance:
    • Thuran argues that even if she had acted, it would have been too late—suggesting fate’s role in the event.
    • This foreshadows Tarzan’s resilience (he survives, of course) while also undermining Miss Strong’s agency.

3. Literary Devices ​

A. Dramatic Irony ​

  • The reader (especially if familiar with the series) knows Thuran is lying and likely orchestrated Tarzan’s disappearance, but Miss Strong does not.
  • His false sympathy contrasts with his true intentions, creating tension.

B. Foreshadowing ​

  • Thuran’s sudden decision to leave the ship ("leave the ship at the first port") hints at his urgent, sinister motives.
  • His possession of "the thing he had taken passage upon this very boat to obtain" suggests theft and espionage, later revealed to be the cipher document.

C. Free Indirect Discourse ​

  • The narrator shifts between Thuran’s external dialogue and internal thoughts, revealing his duplicity.
    • Example: His kind words to Miss Strong vs. his calculating internal monologue about her wealth.

D. Sarcasm and Hyperbole ​

  • "It is a wonder that he breathed at all" is hyperbolic sarcasm, mocking Thuran’s obsession with money.
  • His exaggerated concern ("poor Mr. Caldwell") is insincere, given that he likely caused the "tragedy."

E. Symbolism ​

  • The sea represents chaos and the unknown—Tarzan’s disappearance into it symbolizes his temporary removal from civilization, setting up his later return.
  • Thuran’s pocketed "thing" symbolizes hidden corruption and espionage, a recurring theme in adventure novels of the era.

4. Character Analysis Through the Text ​

Monsieur Thuran ​

  • Surface Level: Charming, sympathetic, and protective of Miss Strong.
  • True Nature: A manipulative, greedy villain who:
    • Exploits guilt to gain trust.
    • Views women as weak (assuming her alarm would be dismissed).
    • Prioritizes self-interest (his urgency to leave the ship).
  • His polished speech contrasts with his predatory thoughts, making him a classic Burroughs antagonist.

Miss Strong ​

  • Naive and emotionally vulnerable:
    • She accepts Thuran’s comfort uncritically, showing her lack of worldly experience.
    • Her wealth makes her a target, but she is unaware of the danger.
  • Passive role in the plot:
    • Unlike Tarzan, who acts decisively, she is reactive, making her an easy mark for Thuran.
  • Represents the "damsel" trope common in early 20th-century adventure fiction, though Burroughs often subverts this later in his works.

5. Significance of the Passage ​

A. Plot Development ​

  • Establishes Thuran as the villain and sets up his conflict with Tarzan.
  • Miss Strong’s vulnerability becomes a plot device—her eventual realization of Thuran’s betrayal will drive later events.
  • Tarzan’s absence creates suspense—how will he return, and what will he do to Thuran?

B. Thematic Depth ​

  • Critique of aristocratic corruption: Thuran, as a Russian nobleman, embodies decadence and deceit, contrasting with Tarzan’s noble savagery.
  • Gender dynamics: The passage reflects early 20th-century attitudes toward women, where their emotions are dismissed, yet their wealth makes them powerful in other ways.
  • Survival and cunning: While Tarzan survives through physical prowess, Thuran survives through manipulation, showing two sides of Darwinian struggle in Burroughs’ world.

C. Stylistic Importance ​

  • Burroughs’ pulp adventure style is on full display:
    • Fast-paced dialogue with hidden motives.
    • Clear moral binary (hero vs. villain).
    • Exotic settings and intrigue (spy plots, shipboard drama).
  • The shift from dialogue to internal monologue keeps the reader engaged and suspicious.

6. Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters ​

This excerpt is a masterclass in villainy and manipulation, using subtle psychological tactics to set up future conflict. Thuran’s charming yet sinister demeanor makes him a compelling antagonist, while Miss Strong’s naivety serves as a catalyst for later drama. The passage also reinforces key themes of the novel:

  • The danger of trust in a world where appearances deceive.
  • The corrupting influence of wealth and power.
  • The contrast between civilized deceit and primal honesty (embodied by Tarzan).

Burroughs’ economical yet effective prose ensures that even a short exchange advances the plot, develops characters, and deepens themes—a hallmark of his pulp fiction genius.

Final Thought ​

If this were a modern thriller, Thuran would be the charismatic villain who gaslights the heroine while plotting his escape. Burroughs, writing over a century ago, already understood the power of psychological manipulation in storytelling—making this passage not just entertaining, but eerily prescient in its portrayal of deception and exploitation.