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Tarzan of the Apes · Character

Tarzan

Raised by apes after his noble parents died on a wild African coast, he becomes the jungle's deadliest hunter—until a stranded American girl awakens something human in him.

major

Also known as John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, Tarzan of the Apes, Man, Monsieur Tarzan

First appearance: Tarzan of the Apes

As a major figure in Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The infant son of Lord and Lady Greystoke, adopted by Kala and raised among the apes.
In the storyTarzan of the ApesOpen this moment free

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Tarzan grows up among the tribe of Kerchak, mastering the knife, the bow, and the language of beasts, yet he is neither fully ape nor fully man. When white strangers are marooned near his parents' old cabin, he secretly…

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The fuller portrait of Tarzan sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

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Character Web

26 connections

A slice of how Tarzan sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

JCJohn ClaytonTETerkozSASaborKAKalaKEKerchakTATarzan

Relationship types

  • Family
  • Rivalry

Character groups

  • Protagonist
  • Castaways and Rescuers
  • Sailors, Mutineers, and Rivals
  • Ape Tribe and Family

+21 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it delivers the emotional peak of relief and reunion after the pro…

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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

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In the story

Tarzan appears across 43 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Tarzan in Tarzan of the Apes