# The Son of Tarzan — Themes

> Major themes in The Son of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## Nature vs. Nurture

The book explores the tension between inherited instincts and civilized upbringing, as seen in Jack Clayton's innate attraction to the jungle and his father's savage past, despite being raised in English nobility.

### Where it surfaces

- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/ii): Jack's innate physical prowess and wild instincts, inherited from Tarzan, clash with the civilized upbringing his parents try to impose.

## Civilization vs. Savagery

The narrative contrasts the refined, restrictive world of London society with the raw, freedom of the African jungle, showing characters like Korak and Meriem oscillating between these two states.

### Where it surfaces

- [The Son of Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/the-son-of-tarzan): Jack Clayton's transformation from a civilized boy to the jungle-dwelling Korak highlights the tension between civilized life and the raw, instinctual world.
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vi): Jack grapples with his civilized conscience (fear of shame, love for his mother) while adapting to the savage laws of the jungle; his silent kill contrasts with his father's victory cry, highlighting a unique blend of both worlds.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vii): The chapter contrasts the perceived savagery of black villagers with the brutal behavior of white slavers, complicating the binary between civilized and savage.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/viii): Korak reverts to savagery, wearing a leopard pelt and fighting like an ape, while Meriem's domestic play contrasts with the brutal jungle life.
- [The Killer and the Child](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/ix): The civilized village is shown as cruel and oppressive, while the 'savage' jungle becomes a place of refuge and kindness.
- [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/x): The trio lives as 'Mangani' (apes), rejecting human identity; Korak feels lost to civilization and finds purpose in the wild.

## Revenge and Redemption

Alexis Paulvitch's desire for revenge against Tarzan drives the plot, while characters like Korak seek redemption through protecting Meriem and renouncing his savage impulses.

### Where it surfaces

- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/i): Paulvitch's hatred and desire for revenge against those he blames for his suffering, though he is too broken to act.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iii): Paulvitch's desire for revenge against Tarzan drives his manipulation of Jack.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xii): Korak recognizes Jenssen and Malbihn as the men who fired on him years ago, and his vengeful reaction sets the stage for potential retribution.
- [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xv): Korak's bloodthirsty rage and relentless attack on the Gomangani are driven by his belief that they killed Meriem, seeking vengeance.
- [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxi): Baynes's pursuit of Malbihn is driven by a desire for revenge, while his guilt and suffering lead to a personal redemption through love.
- [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxii): Morison Baynes seeks to right his wrong and avenge Meriem, while Malbihn's pursuit is driven by vengeful rage.

## Love and Sacrifice

Korak's love for Meriem leads him to renounce his own desires and watch over her from afar, prioritizing her happiness and safety over his own.

### Where it surfaces

- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/v): Meriem's desperate love for her doll Geeka represents her need for affection in a loveless environment.
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xi): Korak's fierce love for Meriem drives him to fight the king ape and endure his wounds; Meriem's loyalty is shown as she stands by him during the battle.
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xiii): Korak's devotion to Meriem is shown through his constant care; Meriem's love for him is sisterly and trusting.
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xiv): Meriem's loyalty to Korak drives her to agree to stay at the farm, sacrificing her immediate freedom for the chance to be reunited with him.
- [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xvi): Meriem's enduring love for Korak and her willingness to risk her life to save the tethered kid reflect themes of sacrifice.
- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xviii): Meriem considers Baynes' marriage proposal, torn between her fading memory of Korak and the promise of a new life.

## Identity and Belonging

Jack Clayton struggles with his dual identity as the son of an English lord and the heir to Tarzan's jungle legacy, seeking belonging among apes, humans, and the wild.

### Where it surfaces

- [The Son of Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/the-son-of-tarzan): Korak forges a new identity in the jungle, finding belonging with Akut and later Meriem, away from his aristocratic heritage.
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iv): Jack's crisis of identity as he grapples with guilt and his place in the world, ultimately choosing the jungle over his former life.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vii): Korak struggles with his dual identity as a civilized boy and a jungle warrior, feeling more at home in the wild yet bound by duty to his family.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/viii): Korak seeks companionship among apes after rejection by humans, declaring 'I am Korak! I am the Killer' in a desperate bid for belonging.
- [The Killer and the Child](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/ix): Korak, rejected by the apes, finds a new purpose in protecting Meriem; Meriem, an orphan, finds belonging with Korak and Akut.
- [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/x): Korak, Meriem, and Akut form a new family unit, defining themselves as apes rather than humans.

## Colonialism and Racism

The book reflects colonial attitudes through encounters with African tribes and Arab slavers, portraying them as hostile or primitive, while white characters are depicted as superior or civilizing forces.

### Where it surfaces

- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/v): The Swedish poachers exploit African territories and people, viewing Meriem as a commodity to be bought and sold.

## Coming of Age

The story follows Jack/Korak's transition from a rebellious boy in London to a skilled jungle warrior, and Meriem's growth from a frightened child into a confident young woman.

### Where it surfaces

- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vi): Jack transitions from a guilt-ridden boy to a hardened survivor, learning jungle skills, losing his civilized clothing, and making his first kill—a pivotal step in his transformation.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vii): Korak's journey represents a rite of passage as he learns jungle survival, confronts moral dilemmas, and begins to form his own identity separate from his parents.
- [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/x): Meriem matures from a frightened girl into a skilled jungle hunter, while Korak transitions into a protective provider.

## Freedom vs. Confinement

Characters repeatedly escape physical or social confinement—Jack from his tutor and home, Meriem from the Sheik's village—to find liberation in the jungle, though at great cost.

### Where it surfaces

- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/i): Paulvitch's captivity and torture by the cannibal tribe contrast with his eventual rescue and journey to London.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/ii): Jack's rebellion against parental restrictions and his escape from the house symbolize his desire for freedom.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iii): Jack's craving for the jungle contrasts with his parents' attempts to confine him to civilized life.
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iv): Jack's decision to flee into the jungle represents a rejection of civilization's constraints and a choice for wild freedom, albeit born of fear.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/v): Meriem is physically and emotionally confined by her father's cruelty and the village, longing for escape even into the dangerous jungle.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_son_of_tarzan_se/chapters/viii): Meriem dreams of escaping to a place with no Sheiks or Mabunu, highlighting her confinement within the village.

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