Dom lessons from Tarzan

I’ve been reading the Tarzan novels on and off for a while. Today I came across a section with an interesting lesson for Dom. I doubt Edgar Rice Burroughs had the Dom/sub world in mind, but it fits quite well. This is from “Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle”, Chapter V “The Tarmangani”. This portion tells of a couple on safari with a number of locals carrying bags and all. Both are Americans and rich. One, Wilbur Stimbol is shooting with a gun, his companion James Blake is using a camera. 

Wilbur has angered Tarzan and been ordered to leave the jungle. Back at the camp Wilbur and Blake have agreed to split up, each taking half the men and provisions. Discussing how they will split the men, Wilbur claims to Blake he’ll be sure Blake has enough, to trust him. Blake has his doubts, as Wilbur has been mistreating the staff so he does not think many will want to go with Wilbur. Wilbur replies that Blake doesn’t know how to handle them. “They know a fellow who beats them is their master.” Blake says Wilbur talks to them, but not with them. The men are called together and told of the split, and all for those wanting to go with Blake to one side, Wilbur with another. All the men pick Blake. 

I was struck by what seems like a discussion between Doms, concerning subs. Many subs love having a belt or flogger taken to them, but if that is all you do, you inspire nothing in the sub and he will not follow you. Some will, as the staff in the novel do, for a while. The longer you go, just inflicting pain, not listening to them, the less a sub will feel like returning to you. 

Pain is an integral part of many Dom/sub dynamics. There is always something; service, humiliation, pain. The sub craves it. But subs crave more than that. A sub wants to extend the connection he has with the Dom in a session. To look to the Dom for guidance. If you provide to the sub only the obvious of his desires, and your time will be shallow. 

What does the passage in Burrough’s work show us? Certain tenants of the Dom/sub relationship are true beyond the dungeon. Treat those who serve you badly, and they will not follow you. Even if you have a gulf of understanding, talking with those who serve you will bind them closer to you.