Draft Essay:
The Legacy of Tarzanx
2. Tarzan as Agent of Natural Justice If Tarzan is the “x” factor—the crossing point—he becomes both lover and judge. In many revisionist tales, Tarzan’s “shaming” of Jane is not cruel but corrective. He forces her to shed hypocrisy. For example, if Part 1 shows Jane attempting to impose Western morals on the jungle (e.g., punishing a natural act like predation or nudity), Tarzan might expose her own repressed desires or past transgressions. Shame, then, becomes a tool for authenticity. The title “Top” might indicate a dominant/submissive dynamic, where Tarzan occupies the “top” position—not just sexually but morally.
5. Top-Level Takeaway
In Part 1, Jane’s shame is not a flaw in her character but a symptom of the world she carries inside her head. Tarzan feels no shame because he has no audience. Jane feels nothing but shame because she has internalized an audience of thousands. The tragedy—and the tension—is that the more she tries to bury her attraction under propriety, the more vividly Tarzan’s unashamed gaze exposes her.