# Kerchak — Tarzan of the Apes character guide

> Kerchak in Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** old Kerchak the Ape, old Kerchak

**First appearance:** 0005-iv-the-apes

## Snapshot

The savage king of the ape tribe, whose jealousy of the strange hairless member of his band curdles into a hatred he never quite finds the excuse to act on.

## Who they are

Kerchak rules the anthropoid tribe into which Tarzan is adopted, a brute monarch whose authority rests on strength and fear. He is jealous of Tarzan's cunning and growing prowess, and his 'little evil brain' searches constantly for a pretext to destroy the white ape who shames his band. His suspicion shadows Tarzan's childhood and young manhood, forcing the boy to prove himself again and again — and when Kala defies him to keep her adopted son, Kerchak's grudging tolerance becomes the fragile truce on which Tarzan's place in the tribe depends.

## Relationships

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan)

_rivalry_

Kerchak, the ape king, resents and fears Tarzan as a rival, leading to a violent confrontation for dominance.

### [Kala](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/kala)

_family_

Kala and Kerchak are mates in the ape tribe, though Kerchak is harsh and Kala often defies him to protect Tarzan.

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan)

_rivalry_

Kerchak, the ape king, resents and fears Tarzan as a rival, leading to a violent confrontation for dominance.

### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan)

_rivalry_

Kerchak, the ape king, resents and fears Tarzan as a rival, leading to a violent confrontation for dominance.

## In the story

### [Tarzan of the Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/tarzan-of-the-apes)

The leader of the ape tribe that adopts Tarzan.

### [IV: The Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/iv-the-apes)

King ape who kills Kala's infant and later kills John Clayton.

### [V: The White Ape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/v-the-white-ape)

Urged by Tublat to force Kala to give up Tarzan, but backs down when Kala threatens to leave the tribe.

### [VI: Jungle Battles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/vi-jungle-battles)

Refuses to send aid for Tarzan, showing his lack of care for the boy.

### [VII: The Light of Knowledge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/vii-the-light-of-knowledge)

Leader of the ape tribe; leads the Dum-Dum ceremony and witnesses Tarzan's victory.

### [VIII: The Treetop Hunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/viii-the-treetop-hunter)

Leader of the ape tribe; the tribe moves through the forest.

### [XI: King of the Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xi-king-of-the-apes)

Jealous of Tarzan's success and seeks an excuse to harm him.

### [The Outpost of the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxv-the-outpost-of-the-world)

Mentioned as the ape who killed John Clayton and as an example of inability to plan.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/kerchak
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters