Tarzan of the Apes

"Tarzan of the Apes," written by Edgar Rice Burroughs in the early 20th century, explores themes of survival, identity, and the conflict between civilization and the wild. The story follows John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, and his wife, who become stranded on the African coast after a mutiny aboard their ship, the "Fuwalda." As chaos ensues among the crew, the Claytons face horrifying brutality and ultimately vanish from the civilized world, leaving their newborn son abandoned. Raised by a tribe of apes in the jungle, this child grows into Tarzan, a remarkable figure caught between two worlds. The novel begins with the gripping account of John Clayton’s ill-fated journey to Africa, which quickly devolves into chaos. After the shipwreck, the narrative immerses us in Tarzan's extraordinary upbringing among the apes, highlighting his struggle for survival and adaptation in a lush, wild setting. Burroughs vividly portrays Tarzan's development as he learns to harness primal instincts while grappling with his human heritage, ultimately inviting the reader to reflect on the essence of identity and what it means to be truly human.