Throughout Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan is superior to other men, even the most civilized men. Therefore, Tarzan is a representation of white the racial superiority and is a prime example of how an intrinsically intelligent,“civilized,” white man became “evolved” and became the ideal strenuous man. Burroughs describes Tarzan as a “perfect type of the strong, masculine” man over any white man (pg. 143). Tarzan grew up as a “savage, primeval man,” however, he became highly evolved than any ordinary human (207). This “ape-man with the heart and body of an English gentleman” can adapt easily to the most primitive conditions and triumphs over any challenge (pg.63). For instance. By the age of ten, Tarzan ”was fully as strong as the average man of thirty, and far more agile than the most…show more content… Tarzan also demonstrates his superiority to other men by being able to learn how to read and write. For instance, he leaves a note in his cabin where Jane and the other men stayed which stated, “ THIS IS THE HOUSE OF TARZAN, THE KILLER OF BEASTS…” (pg 91). Tarzan’s intelligence is intriguing because he can read and write without any other human teaching him the basic pronunciations and skills. Tarzan was able to use “three little bugs” of a dictionary to learn to read and write. (43). However, Tarzan can rapidly learn how to speak and only advances his skills more as he becomes “an eager student” of Captain D’Arnot, who teaches Tarzan how to speak French and English ( pg. 171). Apart from learning to read, write and speak, Tarzan is physically stronger and “jungle smart” than the other men. For example, he can swing from trees with his “giant muscles and that wondrous instinct or knowledge which guided this forest god” through the jungle to save Clayton, Samuel Philander, and Professor Porter from danger ( pg 105). In an instance, Tarzan had to save the cowardly, over-civilized, and book smart Professor Porter and Philander from the “cruel yellow eyes and half-open mouth” of a lion
