The character of Tarzan first appeared in the novel Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1939. Burroughs writes a far more intelligent character than has ever been portrayed in film. Tarzan taught himself all manner of uniquely human skills, including how to read. After mulutiple adventures through the African jungle (killing lions, harrassing supersticious natives, becoming king of his ape tribe), Tarzan meets his first white people. Tarzan meets Jane and falls in love with her. Then Jane leaves the island. Tarzan travels across Africa to commision a ship to America (that's right, the original Jane Porter was from Maryland, U.S.). He finally gets back to Jane, only to find that she's been promised to an ass-hole so that her father can pay off debts. Tarzan theatens the life of said ass-hole in true jungle style, causing the guy to release Jane from her betrothel. Jane the promptly agrees to marry an English lord (Tarzan's cousin), leaving the Lord of the Apes more or less screwed.