# Tarzan — Tarzan of the Apes character guide > Tarzan in Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, Tarzan of the Apes, Man, Monsieur Tarzan **First appearance:** 0001-tarzan-of-the-apes ## Snapshot 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. ## Who they are 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 protects them, drawn especially to Jane Porter, whose kiss sears a brand into his soul and makes him long for a world he has never known. His divided nature—savage killer and yearning heir—drives the story's central question of whether he can ever belong among his own kind. ## Relationships ### [John Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/john_clayton) _family_ John Clayton is Tarzan's biological father, though they never meet in person; Tarzan discovers his heritage through the cabin left by his parents. ### [Terkoz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/terkoz) _rivalry_ Terkoz is a bullying ape who constantly torments Tarzan, leading to a deadly fight where Tarzan kills him. ### [Sabor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/sabor) _rivalry_ Sabor the lioness is a constant predator threat to Tarzan, and he eventually kills her to prove his prowess. ### [Kala](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/kala) _family_ Kala is Tarzan's adoptive ape mother, who rescues him as an infant and raises him with deep love and protection. ### [Kerchak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/kerchak) _rivalry_ Kerchak, the ape king, resents and fears Tarzan as a rival, leading to a violent confrontation for dominance. ### [Robert Canler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/robert_canler) _rivalry_ Robert Canler is a wealthy, manipulative suitor to Jane and a direct antagonist to Tarzan, whom he despises. ### [Professor Porter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/professor_porter) _social_ Professor Porter meets Tarzan as a mysterious jungle man and is initially bewildered by him, later grateful for his help. ### [Kulonga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/kulonga) _rivalry_ Kulonga, a native warrior, kills Kala, prompting Tarzan to hunt and kill him in revenge. ### [Esmeralda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/esmeralda) _friendship_ Esmeralda, Jane's maid, is initially terrified of Tarzan but later becomes fond of him as a gentle giant. ### [Tublat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tublat) _rivalry_ Tublat, Kala's mate, is abusive and hostile toward Tarzan, leading to frequent conflicts and eventual death at Tarzan's hands. ### [Captain Dufranne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/captain_dufranne) _friendship_ Captain Dufranne, a French naval officer, befriends Tarzan and respects his strength and nobility. ### [John Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/john_clayton) _family_ John Clayton is Tarzan's biological father, though they never meet in person; Tarzan discovers his heritage through the cabin left by his parents. ## In the story ### [Tarzan of the Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/tarzan-of-the-apes) The infant son of Lord and Lady Greystoke, adopted by Kala and raised among the apes. ### [Tarzan of the Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/tarzan-of-the-apes) Lord Greystoke, Tarzan's father, who dies shortly after the infant's birth. ### [Out to Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/i-out-to-sea) Lord Greystoke, passenger on the Fuwalda, intervenes to protect a sailor from the captain's brutality. ### [The Savage Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/ii-the-savage-home) Leads the construction of the tree shelter and tries to reassure Lady Alice about their survival. ### [III: Life and Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/iii-life-and-death) Builds the cabin, cares for his wife and son, and records his despair in his diary after Lady Alice's death. ### [III: Life and Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/iii-life-and-death) Born as the infant son of John and Alice Clayton, left orphaned after his mother's death. ### [IV: The Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/iv-the-apes) Lord Greystoke, killed by Kerchak in the cabin. ### [IV: The Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/iv-the-apes) The human infant adopted by Kala after his parents' deaths. ### [V: The White Ape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/v-the-white-ape) Experiences shame upon seeing his hairless body and human face reflected in the lake; demonstrates quick thinking and self-preservation when Sabor attacks; develops rope-making skills and uses them to harass Tublat. ### [VI: Jungle Battles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/vi-jungle-battles) Explores the cabin, discovers a knife, and fights a gorilla, nearly dying from his wounds. ### [VII: The Light of Knowledge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/vii-the-light-of-knowledge) Continues self-education and practices hunting; kills Tublat during the Dum-Dum, asserting his dominance. ### [VIII: The Treetop Hunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/viii-the-treetop-hunter) Devises a plan to hunt Sabor, reflects on clothing and human superiority, and survives a storm. ### [Man and Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/ix-man-and-man) Grieves for Kala, tracks and kills Kulonga, struggles with instinct against cannibalism. ### [X: The Fear-Phantom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/x-the-fear-phantom) Observes the village, steals poisoned arrows, and explores a hut, leaving a mocking display. ### [XI: King of the Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xi-king-of-the-apes) Returns to the tribe, practices archery, discovers his father's diary and photograph, steals arrows from the black village, frightens the villagers with a skull, and shoots Sabor with an arrow. ### [XI: King of the Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xi-king-of-the-apes) Tarzan finds his photograph and diary, though he cannot read the French script. ### [XII: Man's Reason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xii-man-s-reason) Struggles with kingship, longs for the cabin and books, and uses reason to gain an advantage in battle against Terkoz. ### [His Own Kind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xiii-his-own-kind) Recovering from wounds, he observes white men for the first time and decides they are cruel. He kills a black warrior for clothing and becomes a feared figure to the villagers. ### [At the Mercy of the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xiv-at-the-mercy-of-the-jungle) Observes the white party, feels a strange longing for the girl, follows Clayton into the jungle, saves him from Sheeta and Numa, kills the lion, and leads Clayton back toward the cabin. ### [XV: The Forest God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xv-the-forest-god) Carries Clayton through the trees, drags Sabor from the cabin, and kills the lioness with a full nelson, then disappears into the jungle. ### [XV: The Forest God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xv-the-forest-god) Follows Tarzan through the jungle, helps pull Sabor from the window, and comforts Jane after the attack. ### [Most Remarkable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xvi-most-remarkable) Watches the chase from the trees, rescues both men by pulling them to a limb, and later is discussed as a mysterious 'angel' who devoured raw lion meat. ### [Most Remarkable](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xvi-most-remarkable) Comments on Tarzan's raw meat eating, contrasting Esmeralda's view of him as an angel. ### [Burials](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xvii-burials) Observes the mutineers bury treasure, steals Jane's manuscript, and watches the Arrow's departure and return. ### [Burials](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xvii-burials) Discusses the mutineers' betrayal and the lack of promised supplies. ### [XVIII: The Jungle Toll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xviii-the-jungle-toll) Reads Jane's letter, writes a love message, and rushes to rescue Jane after hearing her scream. ### [XVIII: The Jungle Toll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xviii-the-jungle-toll) Leads the search for Jane; finds Esmeralda and tries to revive her. ### [XIX: The Call of the Primitive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xix-the-call-of-the-primitive) Tracks and fights Terkoz to rescue Jane, then claims her with a kiss and carries her into the jungle. ### [XIX: The Call of the Primitive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xix-the-call-of-the-primitive) Rushes to the signal pyre and waves his shirt to attract the attention of the vessels. ### [XX: Heredity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xx-heredity) Carries Jane to the amphitheater, provides fruit, builds a bower, gives her the locket, and guards her through the night, showing hereditary instincts of chivalry. ### [XX: Heredity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xx-heredity) His likeness is in the locket given to Jane. ### [The Village of Torture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxi-the-village-of-torture) Hears the distant shots and rushes to Mbonga's village; arrives in time to rescue D'Arnot from the torture stake. ### [The Village of Torture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxi-the-village-of-torture) Part of the search party; present during the ambush and subsequent fighting. ### [XXII: The Search Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxii-the-search-party) Returns from the search expedition; expresses jealousy and suspicion toward the forest man, and later apologizes to Jane. ### [Brother Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxiii-brother-men) Nurses D'Arnot, learns French, feels betrayed by Jane's departure, struggles with his identity as ape or man, ultimately returns to protect D'Arnot. ### [Lost Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxiv-lost-treasure) Admits fear of jungle noises and supports the decision to wait, though he doubts the forest man's background. ### [The Outpost of the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxv-the-outpost-of-the-world) Discovers his possible heritage through the diary; learns civilized ways at the mission; insists on retrieving the treasure chest. ### [The Outpost of the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxv-the-outpost-of-the-world) His diary is read, detailing his and Alice's hardships and the birth of their son. ### [The Height of Civilization](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxvi-the-height-of-civilization) Adapts to civilized manners and speech, kills a lion with a knife and rope to win a wager, retrieves the treasure, and departs for France. ### [The Giant Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxvii-the-giant-again) Reunites with Jane, rescues her from fire, reveals his identity as Tarzan of the Apes, and expresses his love for her. ### [The Giant Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxvii-the-giant-again) Mentioned as having gone to Wisconsin to prepare things for the Porters, and as a potential rival for Jane's affections. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxviii-conclusion) Rescues the party, confronts Canler, reveals the recovered treasure, confesses his love to Jane, and learns his true identity as Lord Greystoke. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/chapters/xxviii-conclusion) Thanks Tarzan, proposes to Jane, and is accepted; later learns Tarzan is the true Lord Greystoke but Tarzan does not reveal it. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters/tarzan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_of_the_apes_se/characters