8 – The Escape from Opar

In “The Escape from Opar,” the tension and mystery around Tarzan’s identity and the conflicting intentions of the characters involved deepen. Werper, astounded by the wild and primal demeanor of Tarzan, begins to recognize the gravity of Tarzan’s amnesia. He contemplates leveraging the situation for his own benefit, a plan formulated while under threat in La’s temple. Despite his savage appearance, Tarzan’s noble essence surfaces as he questions La’s motives and decides against her sacrificial plan, affirming his refusal to kill without just cause.

The encounter with La reveals a complex blend of devotion, power play, and rejection. La’s declaration of eternal waiting and love for Tarzan juxtaposes his lack of memory and interest. In a stark refusal, Tarzan prioritizes freedom and Werper’s safety over La’s offer of power and companionship. This decision triggers La’s wrath, leading to a climactic confrontation that involves Tarzan’s brute strength and strategic prowess, underlining his inherent ape nature fused with human intellect.

Through their escape, the chapter paints a vivid picture of the duo’s navigation through Opar’s temple, showcasing Tarzan’s physical dominance and adaptability. The narrative skillfully intersects with the themes of greed, as seen through Werper’s eyes marveling at the city’s treasures, and Tarzan’s indifference toward such materialism, highlighting a divergence in human values versus primal contentment.

The return journey hints at a deeper subplot involving Tarzan’s identity crisis, his struggle to recall his past, and Werper’s motives, potentially pointing toward a confrontation or reconciliation. The chapter closes on an evocative note, with Tarzan introspectively searching his belongings, possibly seeking clues to his forgotten life, symbolizing his desire to reconnect with his human side despite his regression into primitiveness.

This chapter effectively balances action, mystery, and character development, leaving readers intrigued about Tarzan’s fate, the dynamic between him and Werper, and the eventual outcome of their expedition back to civilization.