# Tarzan — The Beasts of Tarzan character guide > Tarzan in The Beasts of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Tarzan of the Apes, Lord Greystoke, Bwana Tarzan, John Clayton **First appearance:** 0001-the-beasts-of-tarzan ## Snapshot Lord Greystoke, once Tarzan of the Apes, must trade his Parisian polish for jungle cunning when his oldest enemy escapes and turns predator against his family. ## Who they are Tarzan moves between two worlds—the London drawing rooms where he is John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, and the African wilds where he ruled as King of the Apes. When Nikolas Rokoff escapes a French prison, Tarzan's instinct tells him the Russian will strike not at him but at his wife and infant son, and that dread pulls him away from civilization's safety. His struggle to protect what he loves while navigating a world that no longer plays by jungle rules drives the novel's central hunt. ## Relationships ### [Nikolas Rokoff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/nikolas_rokoff) _rivalry_ Rokoff is Tarzan's arch-nemesis, constantly plotting revenge and harm against him and his family. ### [Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/jane_clayton) _family_ Jane is Tarzan's devoted wife, and their bond is central to the story as he risks everything to rescue her. ### [Sheeta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/sheeta) _friendship_ Sheeta the panther is a fierce but loyal companion to Tarzan, often fighting alongside him. ### [Akut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/akut) _friendship_ Akut the great ape is a trusted ally and friend, aiding Tarzan in his jungle exploits. ### [The Chinaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/the_chinaman) _professional_ The Chinaman is a servant or underling of Rokoff, often interacting with Tarzan as an obstacle or intermediary. ### [Mugambi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/mugambi) _friendship_ Mugambi is a loyal warrior and friend who accompanies Tarzan on his rescue mission. ### [Alexander Paulvitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/alexander_paulvitch) _rivalry_ Paulvitch is Rokoff's henchman and a secondary antagonist, often scheming against Tarzan. ### [Sven Anderssen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/sven_anderssen) _friendship_ Sven becomes a trusted ally to Tarzan, helping him rescue Jane and fight Rokoff. ### [Kaviri](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/kaviri) _friendship_ Kaviri is a native chief or warrior who befriends and aids Tarzan during his journey. ### [Akut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/akut) _friendship_ Akut the great ape is a trusted ally and friend, aiding Tarzan in his jungle exploits. ### [Sven Anderssen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/sven_anderssen) _friendship_ Sven becomes a trusted ally to Tarzan, helping him rescue Jane and fight Rokoff. ### [Sheeta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/sheeta) _friendship_ Sheeta the panther is a fierce but loyal companion to Tarzan, often fighting alongside him. ## In the story ### [The Beasts of Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/the-beasts-of-tarzan) The protagonist, stranded and using his jungle skills to survive and gather allies. ### [Kidnapped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/i-kidnapped) Learns of Rokoff's escape and later falls into a trap while attempting to rescue his son. ### [Marooned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/ii-marooned) Forced to write a cheque, stripped, and marooned on a jungle shore; watches helplessly as Rokoff taunts him with his son. ### [Beasts at Bay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iii-beasts-at-bay) Reads Rokoff's note, fights and kills Molak, subdues Akut, and begins fashioning weapons and a shelter. ### [IV: Sheeta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iv-sheeta) Readapts to jungle life, befriends apes and Sheeta, and struggles with worry over his wife and son. ### [Mugambi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/v-mugambi) Tarzan is the central figure, commanding Sheeta and the apes, defeating the Wagambi, and training his animal allies. He eats raw meat and demonstrates his dominance over both beasts and men. ### [VI: A Hideous Crew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vi-a-hideous-crew) Leads the canoe voyage, hunts with Sheeta, interrogates Kaviri, and learns of a white man, woman, and child ahead—likely his son Jack. ### [Betrayed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vii-betrayed) Leads the pursuit up the Ugambi, scouts ahead alone, and is betrayed and captured by Rokoff while sleeping in a village. ### [VIII: The Dance of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/viii-the-dance-of-death) Bound and tortured during the death dance, he remains defiant and contemptuous, recalling his past rescue of D'Arnot. ### [The Swede](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/x-the-swede) Interrogates Anderssen, shows mercy, leads the pack in battle, and resumes the search for his son. ### [XI: Tambudza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xi-tambudza) Buries the cook, pursues Rokoff, gets lost in the jungle for a week, encounters the village of M'ganwazam, and decides to stay overnight despite suspicion. ### [Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xiii-escape) Tarzan is remembered by Jane as her fearless protector; she mourns him as dead but clings to the hope that he might still be alive. ### [XIV: Alone in the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xiv-alone-in-the-jungle) Tarzan is guided by Tambudza to Rokoff's camp, finds it empty, and tracks Jane and Rokoff into the jungle. ### [Down the Ugambi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xv-down-the-ugambi) Tracks Jane and Rokoff, swims after Rokoff's canoe, is attacked by a crocodile and struck by Rokoff, then disappears beneath the water. ### [In the Darkness of the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xvi-in-the-darkness-of-the-night) Survives crocodile attack, kills the beast, and continues pursuit of Rokoff despite a wounded leg; hears shots and a woman's scream and swims toward them. ### [On the Deck of the Kincaid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xvii-on-the-deck-of-the-kincaid) Watches Rokoff's death with cold satisfaction, then prioritizes protecting Jane from the agitated apes. ### [Paulvitch Plots Revenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xviii-paulvitch-plots-revenge) Observed by Paulvitch on the Kincaid's deck with Jane, unaware of the hidden threat. ### [XIX: The Last of the Kincaid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xix-the-last-of-the-kincaid) Takes command after the explosion, calms the beasts, and orders the evacuation to Jungle Island. ### [Jungle Island Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xx-jungle-island-again) Leads the party to water, hunts for meat, and suggests building a vessel to return to the mainland. ### [The Law of the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxi-the-law-of-the-jungle) Leads the camp, completes the skiff, pursues the Cowrie after Jane is kidnapped, and summons Sheeta and the apes for rescue. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/tarzan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters