Tarzan of the Apes
Tarzan of the Apes is one of the most enduringly popular pieces of literature that has fascinated readers for about a century now. Published in 1912, Tarzan's story gained immediate success and over the next two decades, many extensions of the story were written and published on popular demand. There is nothing real about Tarzan or his upbringing, in fact even though the author has made a serious attempt at convincing us of the reality of the situation, the readers have never been in any doubt that such a thing is close to impossible. However they have not bothered to question the veracity of such a story and have usually enjoyed for the great enthralling piece of literature that it most definitely is. If anything ever raised the question of Nature vs. Nurture, then Tarzan's story was certainly the reason. Is man made or born the way he is? Burroughs has no ambiguities on this question: in the race between nature and nurture, it is always the former that wins. Nature is the strongest influence on a man's behavior and character and nurture has little or no role to play. Interestingly, Tarzan, despite growing up amid apes and chimpanzees, behaves nobly because of the English blood in his veins since his parents the Claytons are
8)It is sometimes even bizarre that young Tarzan knows so much about how humans behave that it is hard to believe he was raised among apes. described as "polished English noble and his lady" (p. It is clear through his interaction with Jane too where again the woman "look upon that noble face so close to hers to dissipate the last remnant of apprehension" (261). The author feels that man doesn't learn things from those around him but knows how to behave in accordance with the type of blood in his veins. The author repeatedly tells us of his noble behavior and character. He starts taking pride in this and the author actually belittles other races when he says: "No longer did he feel shame for his hairless body or his human features, for now his reason told him that he was of a different race from his wild and hairy companions. " (155)And not only that, Tarzan has been made to stand apart from others because of his race. It may be for this reason that Tarzan's noble blood has been so repeatedly stressed. It appears that apart from the mundane activities like climbing the trees, he had learned nothing from the apes. However in author's mind, nothing was more important than being a man and he has hammered the fact repeatedly. If such a thing can be, which I doubt, you would have inherited some of the characteristics of the ape, but you have not--you are pure man, and, I should say, the offspring of highly bred and intelligent parents. " (261)No credit has been given to the affectionate nurturing provided by the female ape. "With the noble poise of his handsome head upon those broad shoulders, and the fire of life and intelligence in those fine, clear eyes, he might readily have typified some demi-god of a wild and warlike bygone people of his ancient forest.
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