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The Return of Tarzan
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More by Edgar Rice Burroughs
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A clearer way to understand The Return of Tarzan through themes, characters, and key ideas
This reading guide highlights what stands out in The Return of Tarzan through 4 core themes, 5 character profiles, and 5 chapter-level ideas. It is meant to help readers decide whether the book fits their taste and deepen the reading once they begin.
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What the book is doing
Edgar Rice Burroughs's "The Return of Tarzan" plunges the ape-man back into the complexities of civilization, where he grapples with his dual identity as Lord Greystoke and the wild Tarzan. The narrative follows his journey from Europe to Africa, entangled in a web of espionage, mistaken identity, and treacherous plots orchestrated by his arch-nemeses, Nikolas Rokoff and Alexis Paulvitch. Driven by the memory of Jane Porter and a yearning for belonging, Tarzan navigates both the sophisticated dangers of society and the primal challenges of the jungle, ultimately reaffirming his unique moral code and untamed spirit. The story is a relentless adventure, exploring themes of identity, loyalty, and the perennial conflict between natural instinct and societal norms, all while setting the stage for further exploits.
Key Themes
Civilization vs. Savagery
This is the core philosophical conflict of the Tarzan series. The novel constantly contrasts the perceived sophistication of European society with the raw, brutal, yet often more honest and just, world of the African jungle. Tarzan finds human society rife with hypocrisy, deception, and greed, while the jungle, despite its dangers, offers a clearer moral code and true freedom.
Identity and Belonging
Tarzan's perpetual struggle to reconcile his birthright as Lord Greystoke with his upbringing as Tarzan of the Apes. He constantly questions where he truly belongs and which identity defines him. This search for self is complicated by his love for Jane and his desire to fit into her world, while simultaneously feeling an irresistible pull back to the wild.
“"He was Tarzan of the Apes, and he had come home."”
How does Tarzan's internal conflict between his 'civilized' and 'savage' identities reflect broader societal tensions of the early 20th century?
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