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 described as "polished English noble and his lady" (p. 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. The author repeatedly tells us of his noble behavior and character. "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." (155)
             And not only that, Tarzan has been made to stand apart from others because of his race. For example the author tells us that Tarzan was proud of his human links. He was
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