22 – Tarzan Recovers His Reason

In “Tarzan Recovers His Reason,” after playing with pebbles from his pouch, Tarzan reflects on his past, struggling to grasp fragments of memories that tease the edges of his consciousness. Despite his efforts, his past remains elusive, with only vague recollections of a life intertwined with the yellow metal and a mysterious woman whose presence hovers within his lost memories. Determined to reconnect with these fleeting memories, Tarzan sets out towards where he last encountered these clues to his identity.

Tarzan’s journey is marked by survival and introspection, as he hunts, evades capture, and encounters various elements of the jungle that challenge and sustain him. His path crosses with that of Werper, the man who previously stole valuable jewels from him, and their encounter rekindles Tarzan’s quest not only for his possessions but for the fragments of his forgotten self.

The narrative explores themes of identity, memory, and the quest for self-discovery. Tarzan, caught between his wild existence and the echoes of a life once lived among men, grapples with the duality of his nature. The jungle, both in its beauty and brutality, serves as the backdrop for this exploration, mirroring Tarzan’s own complexity and inner turmoil.

Their interaction is interrupted by a Belgian officer and soldiers, resulting in their capture. In captivity, Tarzan and Werper navigate the precariousness of their situation, manipulating their captors’ perceptions and planning their escape. Amidst these interactions, Tarzan’s memories start to resurface, sparked by the mention of a name he recognizes but cannot place – Lord Greystoke.

A fraudulent claim by Werper, intended to save himself from immediate punishment, inadvertently triggers the slow return of Tarzan’s memories. The narrative builds tension as Tarzan, still uncertain of his identity but compelled by fragments of his past, plots an escape to continue his quest for self-discovery, with promises of finding his wife Jane and reclaiming his identity.

As the chapter concludes, Tarzan’s imminent escape and the restoration of his memory suggest a rebirth, implying a journey ahead filled with both the pursuit of his past and the confrontation of his present reality within the wild that nurtured him.