Article #81-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Return of Tarzan, by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan entered the smoking-room, and sought a chair a little apart from
the others who were there. He felt in no mood for conversation, and as
he sipped his absinth he let his mind run rather sorrowfully over the
past few weeks of his life. Time and again he had wondered if he had
acted wisely in renouncing his birthright to a man to whom he owed
nothing. It is true that he liked Clayton, but—ah, but that was not the
question. It was not for William Cecil Clayton, Lord Greystoke, that he
had denied his birth. It was for the woman whom both he and Clayton had
loved, and whom a strange freak of fate had given to Clayton instead of
to him.

That she loved him made the thing doubly difficult to bear, yet he knew
that he could have done nothing less than he did do that night within
the little railway station in the far Wisconsin woods. To him her
happiness was the first consideration of all, and his brief experience
with civilization and civilized men had taught him that without money
and position life to most of them was unendurable.

Jane Porter had been born to both, and had Tarzan taken them away from
her future husband it would doubtless have plunged her into a life of
misery and torture. That she would have spurned Clayton once he had
been stripped of both his title and his estates never for once occurred
to Tarzan, for he credited to others the same honest loyalty that was
so inherent a quality in himself. Nor, in this instance, had he erred.
Could any one thing have further bound Jane Porter to her promise to
Clayton it would have been in the nature of some such misfortune as
this overtaking him.

Explanation

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

Context of the Excerpt

This passage comes from The Return of Tarzan (1913), the second novel in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan series. The story follows Tarzan (John Clayton, the rightful Lord Greystoke) after he renounces his aristocratic title and inheritance in favor of William Cecil Clayton, a distant cousin who was raised believing himself to be the true heir. The central conflict revolves around Tarzan’s love for Jane Porter, who—due to a legal and social misunderstanding—ends up engaged to Clayton instead.

The excerpt takes place after Tarzan has already given up his claim to the Greystoke estate, believing it to be the noble choice for Jane’s happiness. He is now reflecting on his decision in a moment of quiet introspection, consumed by sorrow and doubt.

Themes in the Excerpt

Sacrifice and Nobility
- Tarzan’s internal monologue reveals his deep sense of honor. He has sacrificed his birthright not out of obligation to Clayton, but out of love for Jane. His primary concern is her well-being, even at his own expense.
- The text emphasizes that his decision was not logical but emotional—driven by his love for Jane and his belief that she would suffer in a world without wealth and status.
- His assumption that Jane would remain loyal to Clayton even if he lost his title reflects Tarzan’s own unshakable moral code. He cannot fathom betrayal or opportunism because he is incapable of it himself.
Civilization vs. Primitive Virtue
- A recurring theme in Burroughs’ work is the contrast between "civilized" society (often portrayed as corrupt, materialistic, and hypocritical) and the "noble savage" (Tarzan, whose morality is instinctive and pure).
- Tarzan’s brief experience with civilization has taught him that most people value money and position above all else. He assumes Jane, as a product of that world, would too—even though this assumption is later proven incorrect (Jane’s love for Tarzan is genuine, not transactional).
- His decision to renounce his title is, in part, a rejection of the artificial values of aristocracy, yet he still operates within its rules by ensuring Jane’s security.
Fate and Irony
- The "strange freak of fate" that gave Jane to Clayton instead of Tarzan underscores the novel’s preoccupation with destiny. Tarzan believes he is powerless against the forces that have separated him from Jane, yet his own choices (like renouncing his title) also shape his fate.
- There is dramatic irony in Tarzan’s assumption that Jane would suffer without wealth—later events prove that she values love and character over material comfort.
Unrequited Love and Suffering
- Tarzan’s sorrow is palpable. He is not just mourning the loss of Jane but also the life he could have had. His absinth (a bitter, alcoholic drink) symbolizes his emotional state—both numbing and melancholic.
- The repetition of "It was for the woman" reinforces that his pain is not about pride or inheritance, but about love.

Literary Devices and Stylistic Choices

Free Indirect Discourse
- The narrative slips seamlessly between third-person observation and Tarzan’s internal thoughts, creating intimacy. Phrases like "he felt in no mood for conversation" and "let his mind run rather sorrowfully" blend external action with inner turmoil.
- This technique allows the reader to experience Tarzan’s conflict firsthand, making his emotional struggle more vivid.
Symbolism
- Absinth: A bitter, intoxicating drink often associated with sorrow and escapism. Tarzan’s choice of drink mirrors his emotional state—he is trying to dull his pain.
- The Smoking-Room: A space associated with masculine reflection and solitude. Tarzan’s isolation in the room reinforces his emotional detachment from the "civilized" men around him.
Repetition and Emphasis
- "It was for the woman whom both he and Clayton had loved" is a pivotal line, repeated in variation ("It was not for William Cecil Clayton... It was for the woman"). This repetition underscores that Tarzan’s motivation is purely selfless love.
- The phrase "doubly difficult to bear" emphasizes the intensity of his suffering—not only does he lose Jane, but he knows she loves him too.
Dramatic Irony
- Tarzan assumes Jane would be miserable without wealth, but the reader (especially those familiar with the first book, Tarzan of the Apes) knows that Jane’s love for Tarzan is deeper than material concerns. This irony heightens the tragedy of his decision.
Contrast Between Perception and Reality
- Tarzan believes he is acting in Jane’s best interest, but his understanding of her values is flawed. He projects his own nobility onto her, assuming she would remain loyal to Clayton out of duty rather than love.
- This mismatch between perception and reality drives the novel’s central conflict.

Significance of the Passage

Character Development
- This moment defines Tarzan’s moral compass. Unlike traditional heroes who fight for personal glory, Tarzan’s strength lies in his willingness to suffer for others. His nobility is not in battle, but in sacrifice.
- His introspection also humanizes him. Despite his superhuman abilities, he is vulnerable to doubt and heartbreak.
Plot Progression
- Tarzan’s decision to renounce his title sets the stage for the novel’s later conflicts, including his eventual reclaiming of his identity and his reunion with Jane.
- His sorrow here foreshadows his eventual disillusionment with civilization, pushing him back toward the wild where he feels he truly belongs.
Thematic Reinforcement
- The passage reinforces Burroughs’ critique of "civilized" values. Tarzan, the outsider, sees through the hypocrisy of a society that values wealth over love and duty over happiness.
- It also explores the idea that true nobility is not inherited (like a title) but earned through action and character.
Emotional Resonance
- The reader is meant to sympathize with Tarzan’s pain. His quiet suffering in the smoking-room, away from others, makes his loneliness tangible.
- The passage invites reflection on whether his choice was truly wise or if he is a victim of his own idealism.

Conclusion: Tarzan’s Dilemma

This excerpt captures Tarzan at his most vulnerable—a man torn between two worlds (civilization and the wild), two identities (Lord Greystoke and Tarzan of the Apes), and two loves (his devotion to Jane and his sense of honor). His decision to renounce his birthright is both his greatest act of nobility and his deepest source of sorrow. The passage is a masterful blend of emotional depth, thematic richness, and narrative tension, setting the stage for the novel’s exploration of love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of strength.

Burroughs uses Tarzan’s introspection to challenge the reader’s own values: Would we make the same sacrifice? Is happiness truly tied to wealth and status, or is there something purer—like love and loyalty—that transcends them? In the end, Tarzan’s pain is not just personal; it is a commentary on the flaws of the society he has briefly inhabited.

Questions

Question 1

The passage suggests that Tarzan’s assumption about Jane’s potential reaction to Clayton’s loss of title is rooted in a paradox. Which of the following best captures this paradox?

A. He assumes she would reject Clayton despite knowing her love for Tarzan is genuine, revealing his own insecurity.
B. He attributes to her the same unwavering loyalty he possesses, yet this very assumption blindly ignores the materialistic values he believes civilization instills.
C. He believes her love for Clayton is conditional on his wealth, yet he himself has just proven that love can transcend material concerns.
D. He assumes she would remain loyal out of pity, though the passage explicitly states that pity plays no role in his own moral framework.
E. He presumes her happiness depends on civilization’s trappings, yet his own happiness has always been tied to the wild, not society.

Question 2

The "strange freak of fate" that gave Jane to Clayton instead of Tarzan serves a specific narrative function in the passage. Which interpretation is most strongly supported by the text’s tone and structure?

A. It underscores the randomness of life, suggesting that Tarzan’s suffering is ultimately meaningless in a chaotic world.
B. It implies that fate is just, as Clayton’s inheritance aligns with the moral order of civilization’s rules.
C. It heightens the tragedy by framing Tarzan’s sacrifice as an attempt to defy an arbitrary force he cannot control.
D. It foreshadows Tarzan’s eventual triumph, as fate often reverses itself in adventure narratives.
E. It critiques Jane’s passivity, positioning her as a prize to be won or lost rather than an agent in her own right.

Question 3

Tarzan’s choice of absinth in this scene functions on multiple levels. Which of the following interpretations is least supported by the passage’s thematic and symbolic concerns?

A. It mirrors his emotional bitterness, as absinth is a notoriously bitter and melancholic drink.
B. It signals his rejection of civilization’s refinements, as absinth was often associated with bohemian defiance of aristocratic norms.
C. It serves as a literal intoxicant, numbing his pain and suggesting his inability to face his emotions soberly.
D. It contrasts with the "smoking-room" setting, where other men engage in social rituals, emphasizing his isolation.
E. It symbolizes his internal conflict between primal instincts and civilized restraint, as absinth was historically linked to both artistic inspiration and madness.

Question 4

The passage’s narrative perspective employs free indirect discourse to blend Tarzan’s thoughts with the third-person narration. What is the primary effect of this technique in this specific context?

A. It creates ambiguity about whether Tarzan’s assumptions about Jane are reliable, undermining his moral authority.
B. It distances the reader from Tarzan’s emotions, framing his suffering as an objective observation rather than a subjective experience.
C. It exposes the hypocrisy of civilization by juxtaposing Tarzan’s noble thoughts with the implied shallowness of the other men in the smoking-room.
D. It immerses the reader in Tarzan’s psychological state, making his sorrow and moral dilemma feel immediate and visceral.
E. It highlights the artificiality of Tarzan’s introspection, suggesting his thoughts are performative rather than genuine.

Question 5

The passage’s exploration of sacrifice is complicated by an underlying tension. Which of the following best describes this tension?

A. Between Tarzan’s belief in Jane’s loyalty and the text’s suggestion that her love is inherently fickle.
B. Between the nobility of his actions and the implicit criticism that his sacrifice is ultimately futile.
C. Between his rejection of civilization’s values and his willingness to abide by its rules to secure Jane’s happiness.
D. Between his sorrow over losing Jane and his relief at no longer bearing the burdens of aristocracy.
E. Between his assumption that Jane’s happiness depends on wealth and the possibility that her true happiness lies elsewhere.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: B

Why B is most correct: The paradox lies in Tarzan projecting his own "honest loyalty" onto Jane while simultaneously operating under the assumption that civilization’s materialistic values (which he claims to have learned from his "brief experience") would govern her behavior. He cannot reconcile his belief in her inherent nobility with his cynical view of civilized society’s priorities. This tension is the core of the paradox: he credits her with his own virtues but assumes those virtues would be overpowered by the very forces he despises.