Why Does Tarzan Not Have a Beard?

Key Takeaways:

• Tarzan’s lack of beard emphasizes his innocence and separation from adulthood.
• Tarzan chose not to adopt ape characteristics like facial hair, wishing to differentiate himself.
• Clean-shaven faces were the Disney standard for attractive leading men at the time.
• Tarzan may have shaved using his father’s knife, conforming to pictures in books.
• When facial hair first grew, Tarzan may have thought he was turning into an ape.
• A beard requires too much maintenance in the jungle, so Tarzan opted for a closer shave.

The popular fictional character Tarzan has been swinging through the jungle and capturing imaginations for over a century. First appearing in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, this loincloth-clad hero has graced the pages of countless books and comics and been adapted into many classic films. But amidst all his vine-swinging adventures and high-octane exploits, Tarzan is almost always depicted as clean-shaven. Why doesn’t this iconic ape-man have a beard?

This article will comprehensively evaluate the various reasons and theories behind Tarzan’s trademark lack of facial hair. By exploring the thematic, narrative, and practical considerations, we can gain insight into this notable omission in Tarzan’s appearance. Understanding why Tarzan does not have a beard also sheds light on cultural standards of masculinity and handsomeness.

The depth of analysis provided here will help satisfy the curiosity of Tarzan fans and pop culture enthusiasts. Examining this subtle but significant detail creates a deeper appreciation of Tarzan’s origins and his continued impact in entertainment. Whether due to innocence, personal choice, Hollywood conventions, practicality, or a blend of factors, the clean-shaven look is fundamental to Tarzan’s image and appeal.

Does Tarzan’s lack of beard signify his innocence?

In many Tarzan adaptations, Tarzan is portrayed as innocent to the ways of civilization. Having grown up among apes, he lacks socialization and education. His beardless face reinforces this childlike naivety and separates him from full adulthood. According to a discussion on Reddit^1^, a beard represents maturity, wisdom, and manliness. By remaining clean-shaven, Tarzan retains an air of guilelessness and youth. His smooth face visually distances him from the wise elders and experienced hunters of the ape tribe who raised him.

Tarzan’s lack of facial hair also signifies his continued separation from humanity. As noted on HistoryAdventuring^2^, Tarzan recognizes that he is not an ape, and refuses to adopt their physical traits. His hairless face differentiates him from the apes’ thick fur. By shaving, Tarzan creates a unique appearance symbolizing his liminal status between man and beast. Though raised in the jungle, he is biologically human. His beardless look reinforces this divide, distinguishing him from both ape and man.

Did Tarzan deliberately avoid ape-like features?

Beyond representing innocence, Tarzan’s clean-shaven face may stem from a conscious effort to avoid resembling the apes that raised him. As highlighted by HistoryAdventuring^2^, Tarzan knows he is not truly an ape. Therefore, he chooses not to take on their physical attributes, including thick body hair and full beards. By removing his own facial hair, Tarzan visually separates himself from his ape family. This allows him to assert his human identity through his grooming choices.

Sources suggest Tarzan understood from an early age that he was human despite growing up among apes. He recognized differences between ape and human anatomy. As his own facial hair began growing in, Tarzan likely made the deliberate choice to shave it off. He wished to prevent himself from appearing even more simian. By retaining his hairless face, Tarzan could maintain his connection to humanity. His beardless appearance then became a lifelong habit and signature look. Though at home in the jungle, Tarzan’s lack of beard represents his underlying humanity and desire to differentiate himself from the apes he considers family.

Did Disney’s leading man conventions influence Tarzan’s look?

In later film adaptations, social expectations may also explain Tarzan’s lack of facial hair. According to Seventeen Magazine^3^, male protagonists in Disney films at the time adhered to certain handsomeness standards. Leading men were expected to be clean-shaven to maximize their attractiveness. A beard or five o’clock shadow would age the character and undermine their youthful charm. As one of Disney’s most iconic heroes, Tarzan fell under these clean-cut expectations.

His hairless visage conformed to Disney’s norm for handsome, compelling lead roles. Keeping Tarzan beardless helped portray him as the attractive, endearing protagonist audiences loved. This was likely an artistic choice by Disney animators and producers. Exceptions were made for certain characters like John Smith, Phoebus, Flynn Rider and others where facial hair conveyed a roguish appeal. But for Tarzan’s boyish, approachable image, a beardless face was deemed most suitable.

Did Tarzan shave using books and tools left by his parents?

In some Tarzan origin stories, Tarzan’s parents—including his human father—perished in the jungle when he was very young. But they left behind books, tools, and other remnants of civilization in their cabin. As speculated on the Straight Dope message boards^4^, Tarzan likely examined these books and saw illustrations of clean-shaven European men. Recognizing their shared heritage, Tarzan could have decided to shave his own growing beard using his father’s hunting knife or razor. By shaving, he consciously aligned himself with his human ancestry rather than the apes who raised him.

Access to his parents’ possessions offered Tarzan a glimpse into human culture and grooming norms. By adopting the beardless look of the men pictured in the books, Tarzan forged a connection to his long-deceased father. His smooth face helped reinforce that biological lineage. Resources left by his parents enabled Tarzan to maintain a clean-shaven appearance amidst the jungle wilderness, though he otherwise lived largely as an ape. In this way, Tarzan’s beardlessness represents his underlying human identity.

Did Tarzan first shave his beard because he thought he was turning into an ape?

Another possible reason for Tarzan’s hairless face dates back to his youth. A post on GirlsAskGuys^5^ suggests that as Tarzan matured, his beard naturally began growing in. Having lived exclusively among apes, Tarzan had no prior knowledge of male humans’ facial hair growth. When he first noticed his thickening stubble, Tarzan may have feared he was morphing into an actual ape. Worried, he decided to shave off this furry development so he could retain his more human appearance.

This initial decision to shave as an adolescent could have instilled the lifelong habit of beard removal. Once Tarzan realized facial hair growth was natural for men, he no longer needed to shave for fear of becoming simian. But having established his smooth-faced look, it simply became Tarzan’s signature style. By nipping his beard in the bud, so to speak, Tarzan prevented it from ever fully growing in. What began as confusion over human development led to Tarzan’s classic clean-shaven image.

Did practicality factor into Tarzan’s lack of beard?

Apart from psychological and social factors, the jungle setting may provide a practical explanation for Tarzan’s depilated face. As noted on Comic Vine^6^, maintaining a well-groomed beard requires proper tools and care. But living in the wilderness, Tarzan would not have easy access to scissors, razors, oils and creams for keeping facial hair orderly. The dense jungle heat and humidity would also cause a beard to become unkempt rather quickly.

Confronted by these environmental challenges, Tarzan likely recognized that remaining clean-shaven was the most low-maintenance option. Using a simple flint knife or sharpened rock, he could shave off all facial hair more easily than trying to maintain a stylish beard. Tarzan’s hairless face then stemmed from simple practicality for his surroundings. Any beard growth was swiftly removed for comfort and convenience in the muggy jungle climate.

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Conclusion

Tarzan’s lack of facial hair has sparked much curiosity over the years. His smooth visage seems incongruous for a man living wild in the jungle. But upon closer examination, several compelling explanations emerge. Thematically, Tarzan’s beardlessness emphasizes his innocence and separation from both apes and civilization. Psychologically, Tarzan may have deliberately avoided growing a beard to reinforce his human identity amidst his ape upbringing. Culturally, social expectations of Disney leading men influenced his clean-cut look. Practically, maintaining a beard proved difficult in the untamed jungle environment.

Through some blend of artistic, narrative and practical considerations, Tarzan’s hairless face became an iconic part of his image. His beardlessness reveals the duality of a man neither wholly ape nor human. Smooth of face but wild of heart, Tarzan demonstrates the fluidity between civilization and wilderness. And his clean jawline launched a thousand imaginations and pop culture depictions. So while he may never grow that jungle beard, Tarzan’s smooth visage will forever stir curiosity about the divide between man and nature.

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