Tarzan of the Apes

Burroughs was a successful science-fiction author before he took up the Tarzan series, which came under fire for an Africa that's more wild imagination than scientific accuracy. But most shocking to modern readers -- and perhaps good discussion fodder -- are the story's startlingly outmoded stereotypes, particularly racial ones: Tarzan's innate nobility is attributed to his aristocratic ancestors, while his foes are a tribe of ignorant, vicious cannibals with rings in their noses, and Esmeralda, Jane's obese "Negress" servant, is part Aunt Jemima and part Stepin Fetchit.

Tarzan is courageous and a wise leader and strives to do the right thing among civilized humans, often at some cost to himself. His ape mother, Kala, is loving and devoted. Most humans, civilized and uncivilized, behave in foolish or evil ways; Jane tries to take care of her absentminded father in often dire situations, and a French soldier proves a true friend. Author Burroughs positions Tarzan as a mix of noble savage and born aristocrat, with values modern-day readers may find puzzling:

"A perfect type of the strongly masculine, unmarred by dissipation, or brutal or degrading passions. For, though Tarzan of the Apes was a killer of men and of beasts, he killed as the hunter kills, dispassionately, except on those rare occasions when he had killed for hate --though not the brooding, malevolent hate which marks the features of its own with hideous lines.

"When Tarzan killed he more often smiled than scowled, and smiles are the foundation of beauty."

For most of the story, Tarzan and his human friends believe he's the offspring of a human father and an ape mother. There's more lurid suggestion than explicit detail, as Tarzan falls hard for Jane but realizes that what works in the ape world won't work with her. When they're alone together in the jungle, Jane's afraid of his intentions, but he gives her his dagger to protect herself and sleeps outside their shelter. Jane is deeply conflicted about her strong attraction to an "ape"; meanwhile, she has other complications, as back in America she's being forced to marry a creepy rich man to pay her father's debts, while an English aristocrat (Tarzan's cousin, unbeknownst to them all) is in love with her.

Here's the beginning of a legendary relationship:

"Jane -- her lithe, young form flattened against the trunk of a great tree, her hands tight-pressed against her rising and falling bosom, and her eyes wide with mingled horror, fascination, fear, and admiration -- watched the primordial ape battle with the primeval man for possession of a woman -- for her ...

"When the long knife drank deep a dozen times of Terkoz's heart's blood, and the great carcass rolled lifeless upon the ground, it was a primeval woman who sprang forward with outstretched arms toward the primeval man who had fought for her and won her.

"And Tarzan?

"He did what no red-blooded man needs lessons in doing. He took his woman in his arms and smothered her upturned, panting lips with kisses."

Tarzan of the Apes launched an empire: Burroughs himself wrote 24 sequels, and the first of many movie versions came along quickly. A shrewd businessman, Burroughs built and promoted the Tarzan franchise in many media during his lifetime and left a lasting legacy in the town of Tarzana, built on the site of his San Fernando Valley Ranch.