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Discussion » Questions » Television and Movies » Since Tarzan was raised by apes, who named him and why was he made to wear a loincloth?

Since Tarzan was raised by apes, who named him and why was he made to wear a loincloth?

Posted - July 30, 2022

Responses


  • 23574


    I don't know an answer. :)   Good question.

    But, no surprise, your question had me immediately thinking of this song I adore  --


    "Superman's Song"    Crash Test Dummies



    I'll post the music video which blew me away the first time I saw it - - and still does.


    And the lyrics are profound to me -- a companion piece about Tarzan and Superman





    "Superman's Song"

    Tarzan
    Wasn't a ladies' man
    He'd just come along and scoop 'em up under his arm like that
    Quick as a cat
    In the jungle

    But Clark Kent
    Now there was a real gent
    He would not be caught sittin' around in no junglescape,
    Dumb as an ape
    Doing nothing

    Superman never made any money
    For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
    And sometimes I despair the world will never see another man like him

    Hey Bob,
    Supe had a straight job
    Even though he could have smashed through any bank in the United States,
    Well he had the strength,
    But he would not

    Folks said
    His family were all dead
    Planet crumbled but Superman, he forced himself to carry on,
    Forget Krypton,
    And keep going

    Superman never made any money
    For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
    And sometimes I despair the world will never see another man like him

    Tarzan was king of the jungle and Lord over all the apes
    But he could hardly string together four words "I Tarzan, You Jane"

    Sometimes when
    Supe was stopping crimes
    I'll bet that he was tempted to just quit and turn his back on man
    Join Tarzan
    In the forest

    But he
    Stayed in the city,
    And kept on changing clothes in dirty old phone booths 'til his work was through
    And nothing to do
    But go on home

    Superman never made any money
    For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
    And sometimes I despair the world will never see another man like him

    And sometimes I despair the world will never see another man like him




    This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at July 30, 2022 9:08 PM MDT
      July 30, 2022 6:31 PM MDT
    3

  • 10995
    According to the author of the Tarzan books, apes have their own language and Tarzan means white skin. As for the loincloth, perhaps Tarzan was self-conscious about how he looked different from the other male apes.
      July 30, 2022 8:12 PM MDT
    4

  • 44602
    Maybe they were jealous.
      July 31, 2022 8:39 AM MDT
    3

  • 10995
    Probably 
      July 31, 2022 10:05 AM MDT
    2

  • 16763
    I want to know why he was clean-shaven. No razors in the jungle.
      July 30, 2022 11:06 PM MDT
    3

  • 53503

     

      Prepubescent? Lol. 

      ~

      July 30, 2022 11:38 PM MDT
    2

  • 34251
    The book says he used a knife. 
      July 31, 2022 6:20 AM MDT
    2

  • 16763
    The only ERB books I ever read were the Barsoom series.

    Also, who taught him how and why did he bother? Apes don't shave. This post was edited by Slartibartfast at August 1, 2022 4:43 AM MDT
      August 1, 2022 4:42 AM MDT
    0

  • 34251
    According to the book, they are an unknown species of ape and closer to humans.  He does not say if they have a beard.  

    While apes and chimps do not shave, they also do not have beards. 
      August 1, 2022 5:40 AM MDT
    1

  • 34251
    Loin cloth was probably for protection. This post was edited by my2cents at August 1, 2022 8:33 PM MDT
      July 31, 2022 6:21 AM MDT
    2

  • 1953
    Because as a child the other gorillas bullied him for exposing his freakishly massive junk, That's why he wears a loincloth.  :)
      July 31, 2022 7:50 AM MDT
    4

  • 53503

     

      I know, right? I can relate: I can’t stand it when I get bullied about it either. After all, I was born this way! Grrrrrrr. 

    ~

      July 31, 2022 8:12 AM MDT
    2

  • 1953
    Ha!! It can't be bigger than your ego. 
      July 31, 2022 9:19 AM MDT
    4

  • 53503

     

      They’re about the same. You know me.


    ~

      July 31, 2022 2:02 PM MDT
    1

  • 1953
    I highly doubt that
      July 31, 2022 2:32 PM MDT
    2

  • 2219
    They didn't want to be landed with an X certificate. 
      July 31, 2022 2:40 PM MDT
    2

  • 23574
     :)
      August 1, 2022 8:35 PM MDT
    1