# Tarzan — The Return of Tarzan character guide > Tarzan in The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Tarzan of the Apes, Monsieur Tarzan, Jean C. Tarzan, John Clayton, Lord Greystoke **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-affair-on-the-liner ## Snapshot Raised by apes and newly civilized, Tarzan must choose between a title he never wanted and the wild freedom he understands. ## Who they are Tarzan moves through Parisian society as Monsieur Tarzan, a man whose instincts belong to the jungle even as his heart clings to Jane Porter, now promised to another. He craves companionship and the warmth of human speech, yet civilization fits him like an ill-cut coat, and his honest loyalty makes him an easy mark for schemers. His divided nature drives the novel's central question: can a man of two worlds ever belong to either? ## Relationships ### [Countess Olga de Coude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/countess_olga_de_coude) _romantic_ Countess Olga is infatuated with Tarzan, drawn to his primal strength and nobility, creating a tense romantic attraction despite her marriage. ### [Jane Porter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/jane_porter) _romantic_ Jane and Tarzan share a deep, evolving romantic bond, with Jane torn between her civilized life and her love for the ape-man. ### [Lieutenant Gernois](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/lieutenant_gernois) _rivalry_ Lieutenant Gernois is a jealous rival who resents Tarzan's success and attention from women, leading to open hostility. ### [Alexis Paulvitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/alexis_paulvitch) _rivalry_ Alexis Paulvitch is a cunning and vengeful enemy of Tarzan, constantly plotting against him as part of Rokoff's schemes. ### [Kadour ben Saden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/kadour_ben_saden) _friendship_ Kadour ben Saden is a loyal Arab sheik who befriends Tarzan and aids him during his adventures in Africa. ### [Abdul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/abdul) _friendship_ Abdul is a faithful servant and companion to Tarzan, providing assistance and loyalty in the wilderness. ### [Lord Tennington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/lord_tennington) _friendship_ Lord Tennington is a friendly English aristocrat who becomes a close ally and companion to Tarzan. ### [Captain Gerard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/captain_gerard) _friendship_ Captain Gerard is a French naval officer who respects and befriends Tarzan, aiding him in various adventures. ### [Hazel Strong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/hazel_strong) _friendship_ Hazel Strong develops a friendly admiration for Tarzan, though she remains primarily loyal to Jane. ### [Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/wilson) _rivalry_ Wilson is a treacherous crew member who opposes Tarzan, leading to conflict and danger on the high seas. ### [Busuli](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/busuli) _friendship_ Busuli is a loyal Waziri warrior who follows Tarzan as his chief, showing deep respect and camaraderie. ### [Spider](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/spider) _friendship_ Spider is a fellow adventurer and ally who accompanies Tarzan on dangerous missions, sharing a bond of mutual trust. ## In the story ### [The Affair on the Liner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/i-the-affair-on-the-liner) Observes the card game and intervenes to expose Rokoff's plot against Count de Coude. ### [II: Forging Bonds of Hate and ⸻?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/ii-forging-bonds-of-hate-and) Intervenes to protect a young woman from Rokoff and Paulvitch, reflecting on the flaws of civilization. ### [III: What Happened in the Rue Maule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iii-what-happened-in-the-rue-maule) Tarzan refuses his title and estates, preferring to remain a nameless vagabond. He is lured to the Rue Maule and fights off apaches, but is falsely accused by the woman. ### [IV: The Countess Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iv-the-countess-explains) Narrates his Rue Maule encounter to D'Arnot, criticizes civilized brutality, attends opera, visits Countess de Coude, and learns of Rokoff's spy plot. ### [The Plot That Failed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/v-the-plot-that-failed) Visits Countess de Coude regularly, is lured into a trap by Rokoff, nearly kills Count de Coude in a fit of rage, then forces Rokoff and Paulvitch to confess and suppress the scandal. ### [VI: A Duel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vi-a-duel) Feels guilt over his actions with the Countess de Coude, considers returning to the jungle, participates in the duel, fires into the air, and later accepts a government position. ### [VII: The Dancing Girl of Sidi Aissa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vii-the-dancing-girl-of-sidi-aissa) On his first mission as a secret agent, Tarzan poses as an American hunter in Algeria to surveil Lieutenant Gernois. ### [VIII: The Fight in the Desert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/viii-the-fight-in-the-desert) Defends himself against assassins, befriends Kadour ben Saden and his daughter, and learns the rudiments of their language. ### [IX: Numa El Adrea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/ix-numa-el-adrea) Accompanies the French military column, suspects Gernois of treachery, and later kills a black lion in a solo hunt. ### [X: Through the Valley of the Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/x-through-the-valley-of-the-shadow) Captured, bound, and freed; confronts a black lion with a knife. ### [John Caldwell, London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xi-john-caldwell-london) Travels under the alias John Caldwell; reflects on his past with Jane Porter; spies on Rokoff and Gernois; visits Kadour ben Saden; receives orders to go to Cape Town. ### [Ships That Pass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xii-ships-that-pass) Traveling under the alias Mr. Caldwell; confronts Rokoff on the yacht, warns him to stay away from Hazel Strong, and is later ambushed and thrown overboard by Rokoff and Paulvitch. ### [The Wreck of the Lady Alice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xiii-the-wreck-of-the-lady-alice) Missing from breakfast; his berth was not occupied; presumed lost overboard. ### [XIV: Back to the Primitive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xiv-back-to-the-primitive) Swims to a derelict after being thrown overboard by Rokoff, then rows to his cabin and reverts to his primitive jungle instincts. He saves a black warrior from a lion and makes peace with him. ### [From Ape to Savage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xv-from-ape-to-savage) Tarzan lives with the native tribe, hunts with them, and begins to identify as a savage, while also feeling the pull of civilization upon seeing gold. ### [The Ivory Raiders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xvi-the-ivory-raiders) Leads the rescue of enslaved women, devises guerrilla tactics, kills sentries, and attempts to guide the Waziri warriors to a strategic victory. ### [XVII: The White Chief of the Waziri](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xvii-the-white-chief-of-the-waziri) Becomes the white chief and king of the Waziri after leading them to victory against Arab raiders. ### [XIX: The City of Gold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xix-the-city-of-gold) Newly made chief of the Waziri, leads expedition to the city of gold, explores the ruins, and is captured by a strange white-skinned people. ### [La](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xx-la) Tarzan is captured and about to be sacrificed in the Temple of the Sun, but he breaks free and rescues the high priestess La from a mad priest. ### [The Castaways](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxi-the-castaways) Mentioned by Jane as the bravest man she ever knew; his cabin lies five miles north, unknown to the castaways. ### [XXII: The Treasure Vaults of Opar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxii-the-treasure-vaults-of-opar) Leads the Waziri to retrieve gold from Opar, buries it in the jungle amphitheater, then saves Jane and Clayton from a lion, but refrains from killing Clayton out of jealousy. ### [The Fifty Frightful Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxiii-the-fifty-frightful-men) Returns to the ape tribe, reasserts dominance, and is chosen as leader again. Upon hearing of a captured white woman, he rushes east toward Opar. ### [XXV: Through the Forest Primeval](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxv-through-the-forest-primeval) Rescues Jane from Opar's altar, discovers Clayton dying, and reunites with Jane. ### [The Passing of the Ape-Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxvi-the-passing-of-the-ape-man) Leads the burial party for Clayton, confronts Rokoff, retrieves his gold, and marries Jane Porter. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters/tarzan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/characters