Article #96-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Monster Men, by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Once on board Virginia started immediately for her father’s cabin. As
she crossed the deck she noticed that the ship was ready to sail, and
even as she descended the companionway she heard the rattle of the
anchor chain about the capstan. She wondered if von Horn could be on
board too. It seemed remarkable that all should have reached the Ithaca
so quickly, and equally strange that none of her own people were on
deck to welcome her, or to command the vessel.

To her chagrin she found her father’s cabin empty, and a moment’s
hurried investigation disclosed the fact that von Horn’s was unoccupied
as well. Now her doubts turned quickly to fears, and with a little gasp
of dismay at the grim possibilities which surged through her
imagination she ran quickly to the companionway, but above her she saw
that the hatch was down, and when she reached the top that it was
fastened. Futilely she beat upon the heavy planks with her delicate
hands, calling aloud to Bududreen to release her, but there was no
reply, and with the realization of the hopelessness of her position she
dropped back to the deck, and returned to her stateroom. Here she
locked and barricaded the door as best she could, and throwing herself
upon the berth awaited in dry-eyed terror the next blow that fate held
in store for her.

Shortly after von Horn became separated from Virginia he collided with
the fleeing lascar who had escaped the parangs of Muda Saffir’s head
hunters at the same time as had Bududreen. So terror stricken was the
fellow that he had thrown away his weapons in the panic of flight,
which was all that saved von Horn from death at the hands of the fear
crazed man. To him, in the extremity of his fright, every man was an
enemy, and the doctor had a tough scuffle with him before he could
impress upon the fellow that he was a friend.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Monster Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs**

Context of the Source

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950) is best known as the creator of Tarzan and John Carter of Mars, but The Monster Men (1929) is a lesser-known adventure novel that blends elements of science fiction, horror, and colonial adventure. The story follows Dr. Max von Horn, a scientist who creates artificial men on a remote island, and Virginia Maxwell, the daughter of a scientist who becomes entangled in his experiments. The novel explores themes of scientific ethics, survival, and the consequences of playing god.

This excerpt occurs at a tense moment in the narrative: Virginia, having escaped a dangerous situation onshore, boards the ship Ithaca only to find herself trapped below deck, while von Horn faces his own peril after being separated from her.

Themes in the Excerpt

Isolation and Helplessness
- Virginia’s discovery that the ship is deserted and that she is locked below deck reinforces the theme of isolation. Her futile attempts to escape—beating on the hatch, calling for help—highlight her vulnerability.
- The text emphasizes her physical and emotional confinement: "she dropped back to the deck" and "awaited in dry-eyed terror the next blow that fate held in store for her." The phrase "dry-eyed terror" suggests a paralyzing fear, one that does not even allow for tears.
Betrayal and Deception
- The absence of her father and von Horn, combined with the ship’s sudden departure, implies betrayal. The fact that "none of her own people were on deck to welcome her" suggests a premeditated trap.
- The lascar’s (a South Asian sailor) terrorized state and von Horn’s struggle with him introduce an element of chaos, reinforcing the idea that trust is fragile in this world.
Fate and Powerlessness
- Virginia’s resignation to "the next blow that fate held in store" reflects a deterministic view—she sees herself as a victim of forces beyond her control.
- Von Horn’s struggle with the lascar, who "in the extremity of his fright, every man was an enemy," mirrors Virginia’s own sense of being at the mercy of unpredictable, hostile forces.
Survival and Instinct
- Both Virginia and von Horn are forced into survival mode. Virginia barricades herself in her cabin, while von Horn must physically subdue the lascar to avoid being killed.
- The lascar’s panic—throwing away his weapons—shows how fear can strip away rationality, leaving only primal instinct.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

Suspense and Foreshadowing
- The rattling of the anchor chain ("she heard the rattle of the anchor chain about the capstan") creates immediate tension, signaling that the ship is leaving—possibly without her consent.
- The phrase "grim possibilities which surged through her imagination" hints at unseen dangers, building suspense without explicit detail.
Sensory and Kinetic Imagery
- Auditory Imagery: The "rattle of the anchor chain," the "futile" beating on the hatch, and the silence when "there was no reply" immerse the reader in Virginia’s desperation.
- Tactile Imagery: "Delicate hands" contrasting with the "heavy planks" of the hatch emphasize her physical weakness against the unyielding barrier.
- Visual Imagery: The "hatch was down" and "fastened" creates a claustrophobic visual, reinforcing her entrapment.
Juxtaposition of Calm and Chaos
- Virginia’s "dry-eyed terror" is a striking oxymoron—terror usually provokes tears, but her fear is so profound it leaves her numb.
- The lascar’s "fear-crazed" state contrasts with von Horn’s attempt to reason with him ("impress upon the fellow that he was a friend"), showing the struggle between instinct and logic.
Symbolism
- The ship symbolizes both escape and imprisonment—Virginia expects safety but finds herself trapped.
- The locked hatch represents the inescapable nature of her predicament, a physical manifestation of her lack of agency.
- The lascars’ discarded weapons symbolize the loss of control when fear takes over.
Pacing and Sentence Structure
- Short, abrupt sentences ("She wondered if von Horn could be on board too. It seemed remarkable...") create a sense of urgency.
- Longer, descriptive sentences slow the pace when focusing on Virginia’s emotions ("with a little gasp of dismay at the grim possibilities..."), deepening the reader’s immersion in her fear.

Significance of the Passage

Character Development
- Virginia’s resilience is tested here. Unlike a traditional "damsel in distress," she takes action—barricading her door—even if her options are limited. This moment sets up her potential growth into a stronger, more resourceful character.
- Von Horn’s struggle with the lascar humanizes him; he is not just a mad scientist but someone capable of reasoning even in chaos.
Plot Progression
- The excerpt serves as a turning point: Virginia’s imprisonment raises the stakes, while von Horn’s separation from her introduces parallel dangers.
- The mystery of the deserted ship and the locked hatch propels the narrative forward, making the reader question who is in control (Bududreen? Muda Saffir’s men?) and what their motives are.
Reflection of Colonial & Scientific Anxiety
- The novel was written in an era fascinated by scientific experimentation (e.g., Frankenstein’s monster, eugenics debates). Von Horn’s creation of artificial men (referenced in the broader novel) ties into fears of unchecked scientific ambition.
- The lascar’s terror—seeing "every man was an enemy"—reflects colonial tensions, where native workers were often exploited and distrusted by European powers.
Gothic and Adventure Tropes
- The trapped heroine in a confined space is a classic Gothic trope, evoking fear of the unknown.
- The sudden, violent encounter between von Horn and the lascar fits the adventure genre’s emphasis on physical conflict and survival.

Close Reading of Key Lines

"She wondered if von Horn could be on board too. It seemed remarkable that all should have reached the Ithaca so quickly..."
- Virginia’s suspicion hints at the unnatural speed of events, suggesting manipulation by an unseen force (likely Bududreen or Muda Saffir).
"with a little gasp of dismay at the grim possibilities which surged through her imagination"
- The word "surged" implies an overwhelming, almost physical force of fear, as if her mind is flooded with horrors.
"awaited in dry-eyed terror the next blow that fate held in store for her."
- "Dry-eyed terror" is a powerful contradiction—terror without tears suggests a deep, paralyzing dread.
- "The next blow that fate held in store" personifies fate as an active, malevolent force, reinforcing her powerlessness.
"To him, in the extremity of his fright, every man was an enemy..."
- This line captures the lascar’s psychological state, where paranoia erases all distinctions between friend and foe—a commentary on how fear distorts perception.

Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt is a microcosm of The Monster Men’s central tensions: science vs. ethics, control vs. chaos, and human resilience vs. existential dread. Virginia’s entrapment mirrors the broader themes of the novel—characters are often at the mercy of forces they cannot understand or control, whether scientific experiments, colonial power struggles, or their own fears.

Burroughs’ use of suspense, vivid imagery, and psychological depth (even in a pulp adventure) makes this passage more than just a plot device—it’s a study in how fear shapes action, and how isolation tests the human spirit. The locked hatch isn’t just a physical barrier; it’s a metaphor for the inescapable consequences of the characters’ past choices, setting the stage for the novel’s climactic confrontations.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s depiction of Virginia’s reaction to being trapped below deck is most effectively characterised by which of the following tensions?

A. The conflict between her intellectual curiosity about the ship’s sudden departure and her emotional need for safety.
B. The juxtaposition of her physical fragility (e.g., "delicate hands") with the brute force required to escape her confinement.
C. The contrast between her initial optimism upon boarding the Ithaca and her later resignation to a predetermined fate.
D. The interplay between her distrust of von Horn’s motives and her reliance on him as her only potential ally.
E. The collision of her instinctive fight response (beating on the hatch) with her ultimate submission to a paralysing, "dry-eyed terror."

Question 2

The lascar’s behaviour in the passage serves primarily to:

A. illustrate the moral ambiguity of colonial power dynamics by positioning him as both victim and aggressor.
B. underscore the theme of universal vulnerability by demonstrating how fear reduces even armed individuals to irrational violence.
C. foreshadow von Horn’s eventual descent into madness by mirroring his loss of control in a moment of crisis.
D. critique the inefficacy of rational persuasion in life-or-death situations, as evidenced by von Horn’s failed attempt to calm him.
E. highlight the arbitrary nature of survival, given that his discarded weapons inadvertently spare von Horn’s life.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the narrative function of the phrase "the grim possibilities which surged through her imagination"?

A. It introduces a supernatural element by suggesting Virginia’s fears are premonitions of actual future events.
B. It serves as a red herring, misleading the reader into expecting a horror trope that the passage ultimately subverts.
C. It externalises Virginia’s internal state, framing her fear as an overwhelming, almost tangible force.
D. It underscores the unreliability of her perception, implying her imagination distorts reality beyond recognition.
E. It establishes a Gothic tone by invoking the trope of a heroine tormented by vague, unnamed terrors.

Question 4

The passage’s structural parallel between Virginia’s entrapment and von Horn’s struggle with the lascar is most effectively interpreted as:

A. a commentary on gender roles, where Virginia’s passive suffering contrasts with von Horn’s active confrontation of danger.
B. an illustration of the novel’s central theme that scientific ambition inevitably leads to physical and psychological confinement.
C. a critique of colonial exploitation, where both scenes depict the violent consequences of cross-cultural encounters.
D. a stylistic device to heighten suspense by alternating between two simultaneously unfolding crises.
E. a reinforcement of the idea that fear—whether in isolation or conflict—strips individuals of agency and reduces them to primal survival instincts.

Question 5

The "dry-eyed terror" Virginia experiences is most thematically resonant with which of the following ideas?

A. The stoicism of adventurers in Burroughs’ works, who suppress emotion to endure hardship.
B. The existential dread of confronting an indifferent or hostile universe without illusions of control.
C. The Gothic convention of female hysteria, reimagined here as a silent, internalised madness.
D. The psychological numbing that follows prolonged exposure to trauma, as seen in war literature.
E. The paradox of courage in the face of helplessness, where terror coexists with clear-headed action.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: E

Why E is most correct: The passage explicitly contrasts Virginia’s initial physical resistance ("futilely she beat upon the heavy planks") with her eventual collapse into a state described as "dry-eyed terror"—a phrase that connotes a paralysing fear devoid even of cathartic tears. This tension between fight and submission is the core of her psychological state in this moment.