Themes & patterns

Tarzan, born to English nobility but raised by apes, embodies the tension between innate human qualities and environmental conditioning, as his noble lineage manifests in instincts and emotions he cannot explain.

Tarzan struggles with his dual identity as a man among apes, feeling alienated from both the ape tribe and the human blacks, and longs for companionship and a sense of place in the jungle.

The book contrasts the raw, instinctual life of the jungle with the cruelties and complexities of human society, often portraying civilized humans as more disgusting or brutal than wild beasts.

Tarzan experiences various forms of love—romantic longing for Teeka, maternal affection from Kala, and paternal care for Gazan—highlighting the universal need for emotional bonds across species.

The narrative emphasizes the constant struggle for food, safety, and territory, with Tarzan relying on his keen senses, physical prowess, and primal instincts to navigate dangers like lions, boars, and hostile humans.

Tarzan’s insatiable desire to understand the world—from the moon and God to the customs of blacks—drives his actions and sets him apart from the apes, reflecting a uniquely human quest for meaning.

The jungle is marked by relentless violence and revenge, as seen in Tarzan’s baiting of the blacks after Kala’s death and the brutal practices of both animals and humans, including torture and killing for sport.

Tarzan views the black Gomangani with contempt and disgust, while they fear him as a supernatural being, illustrating themes of racial and cultural otherness and the barriers between different groups.