The creation of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs owes much to the timeless allure of classical myths and literary predecessors. Among the most significant influences are the ancient legend of Romulus and Remus, twins who were nurtured by a she-wolf prior to founding Rome, and the character of Mowgli from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (1894), who is raised by wolves and mentored by a bear. Burroughs, who engaged with classical texts during his school years, was particularly captivated by the potential narrative of a child from a refined and cultured family being raised by wild beasts, completely isolated from human society. This speculation intrigued him enough to revisit the theme repeatedly in his imagination.

Burroughs, although not an avid reader of fiction in his adult life, acknowledged the longstanding tradition of the "wild child" narrative. He pointed out in 1931 that the concept predates Kipling’s tales, asserting that "the Mowgli theme is several years older than Mr. Kipling. It is older than books. Doubtless it is older than the first attempts of man to evolve a written language." Hence, the idea of a human nurtured by animals is rooted deeply in human storytelling, transcending written history. This enduring motif undoubtedly provided fertile ground for Burroughs as he imagined and penned the adventures of Tarzan, shaping a story that would resonate across generations."

Tarzan, along with figures like Mowgli and Romulus and Remus, embodies the enduring conflict between heredity and environment. Burroughs' creation delves deeper into this dichotomy, juxtaposing the often corrupting complexities of human civilization with the straightforward honesty found in the animal kingdom. Through Tarzan's story, Burroughs invites readers to ponder how a child's mind, morals, and physique are shaped when removed from the influences of civilized society, left instead to rely on innate heredity and personal self-training.

In contrast to his wild upbringing, Tarzan’s inherent nobility is a recurring theme. Burroughs highlights this when Tarzan, after killing his first lion, emits a primal roar—an instinctual echo from his genetic lineage. At the same time, in London, another Lord Greystoke addresses his peers in the House of Lords with a voice that commands a different, subtler kind of respect. This parallel underscores the natural aristocracy that Tarzan retains, despite his savage upbringing.

Even when interacting with Jane, Tarzan displays a refined elegance. His gallant demeanor is described as "the hall-mark of aristocratic birth," a testament to the hereditary instincts ingrained in him. This graciousness, a product of generations of refined breeding, remains intact despite the raw and untamed environment in which he was raised. Through Tarzan's character, Burroughs masterfully nuances the interplay between innate traits and the external world, exploring how each shapes identity in profound ways.

Throughout the Tarzan series, Edgar Rice Burroughs contrasts the vices of human society with the purity of nature. In Tarzan of the Apes, characters are confronted with the harsh realities of greed, hypocrisy, and deception, especially evident through the actions of mutinous sailors. These sailors, depicted with a scarcity of redeeming traits, serve as stark contrasts to the inherent justice found within the jungle's creatures. Burroughs himself remarked on this dynamic, expressing a wish to "shame men into being more like beasts in those respects in which beasts excel men, and these are not few." His narrative suggests that the natural world, with its straightforward code of conduct, often supersedes the flawed moral compass of humanity.

Tarzan of the Apes captivates audiences largely through its essence of escapism. The allure of Tarzan’s adventures lies in their ability to transport readers from their everyday lives into a world of wonder and excitement. This was precisely the intention of the author, Edgar Rice Burroughs, who once admitted that creating the series was his personal retreat from the monotony or discomforts of reality. Through Tarzan, Burroughs and his readers could momentarily forsake the mundane, diving headlong into the thrilling and untamed jungles where Tarzan, the legendary 'lord of the jungle,' roams freely. The narrative thus serves as a sanctuary, offering a respite to those yearning for something beyond their immediate surroundings.