Chapter 1 The Most Dangerous Game Analysis

In the story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and the poem “Porphyria’s Lover” by Robert Browning, the authors use characterization and imagery to convey that the desire for power can drive man to psychotic actions.

In Richard Connell’s short story “The Most Dangerous Game”, the protagonist character, Sander Rainsford is an adventurous and fearless big game hunter. Rainsford has no remorse for his prey. Over the course of the story Rainsford experiences a sudden change of heart when he finds himself where “The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees.”

It had been a week since Rainsford managed to kill the nefarious General Zaroff. The challenging part was almost over or so it seemed. There was not a clear way for Rainsford to escape. As days passed, Rainsford tried to escape. He tried making a boat from driftwood that he found, he tried swimming, he even tried sending a signal by using a flashlight. Rainsford had become so desperate that he even tried some ridiculous plans like trying to pole vault across the ocean. As a result, Rainsford ended up having huge gashes in his left leg ,which got infected, and he had to amputate it. As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, Rainsford had lost hope and became bitter.

When Rainsford arrives at the generals, he is introduced to a game where he must fight against Zaroff for his own life. After competing against himself, Rainsford is done with the generals games and ends the little war once and for all. Rainsford sneaks into the general's room at night, when he would least expect to see Rainsford. Rainsford catches Zaroff by surprise, and Zaroff knows it is over. “‘ I congratulate you, “ he said. “ You have won the game. “‘ (14). As vulnerable as he is, the general has to accept that Rainsford won. Rainsford takes advantage of this moment, and

Rainsford was stuck. All the General wants in return is for him to pretend that he doesn’t exist in this cruel world. Like a character in a fantasy book.

What is human nature? The Bible says in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We are all fallen, sinful and depraved, all of us are. Humans are evil. Genesis 1-3 shows us that God made us whole and good, but we have ruined his perfect plan. The greatest of men were all sinners. Moses, the leader of Israel was a murder (Exodus 2:11-15), David slept with Bathsheba and then killed her husband (2 Samuel 11-12), Paul murdered christians (Acts 9), and the list goes on and on.

Rainsford answers, “Yes, that’s so” (85). Rainsford could have taken a stand. Of course, it is not his place, but he was calm and composed to sit back and let Zaroff open up. ‘“Don’t be alarmed, I’m Sanger Rainsford” (47). Rainsford has a pistol pointed at his heart and he is telling this huge creation of a man that he is hungry. As much as he has been through in the past twenty-four hours, this did not alarm Rainsford. He presented himself as lost and from New York.

“Rainsford held his breath. The general’s eyes had left the ground and were traveling inch

Resourcefulness is being able to overcome difficulties quickly and in a clever way. Resourcefulness can also be using one’s surroundings for his/her benefit with prior knowledge and experience. In Richard Connell’s short story “The Most Dangerous Game” the main character Rainsford shows these skills of resourcefulness as he tries to survive the hunt. Rainsford is an experienced big game hunter that is trapped on a tropical jungle covered island with another big game hunter, General Zaroff. Zaroff has gained so much experience in hunting, due to this he has lost interest in hunting animals and now enjoys the hunt of humans. Rainsford is put in the position to be torched or participate in a game of hunting. When Rainsford is challenged to this game of hunting he is forced to try and survive. Rainsford is able to survive the hunt because he uses his resources and prior knowledge to weaken Zaroff helping him win the hunt.

Rainsford finally stopped running when he reached a tall tree that he could hide in. He climbed up as far as he could and hid out there for the

Rainsfords is panicked and running for his life, he's also scared of what General Zaroff will do to him when he catches him. Rainsfords force himself towards the gap between these two trees. He got closer to gap to see open water, and then he went to for it, he jumped. ‘“I am still a beast at bay, Rainsfords said, in a low hoarse voice, Rainsfords said this after he jumped off the cliff and swam back to the land. As he swam back he seen a big house, he walked closer to it and seen General Zaroff.

Rainsford does not want to loose so he wants to slow general Zaroff to slow down. He accomplishes this by setting up a trap. According to the text, “But he was not quite quick enough; the dead tree, delicately adjusted to rest on the cut living one, crashed and struck the general a glancing blow on the shoulder as it fell but for his alertness, he must have been smashed beneath it” (29). General Zaroff falls for the trick and gets injured. The idea of slowing down was accomplished which causes him to go home and take care of his wound. While Rainsford finally gets time alone during the night he thinks up another plan. According to the story, “ He stepped back from the quicksand a dozen feet or so, and like some huge prehistoric beaver, he began to dig”(30). This quote shows that he is developing more survival traits because he is figuring out how he can make certain traps with using natural resources around

Rainsford falls off a boat and fell asleep after he swam to Ship-Trap island. The next morning he wakes up, and follows a path that lead him to a massive building. General Zaroff opens the door and is pointing a gun at him. Rainsford told him not to be alarmed, as the mood calmed down general Zaroff let him inside. As they talk about hunting, the general said “Hunting tigers ceased to interest me years ago” he has a new animal. Rainsford said he will not condone

The challenge is three days long and if Rainsford is alive on the third day he can go home, so the general says. He survives the three days after exploiting all of his resources and

Rainsford woke up the next morning within plain sight of the castle. Its ominous towers stared down at him unmercifully. “They’re just toying with me.” He muttered under his breath. “General Zaroff is all about the hunt. Rainsford knew immediately that he could use this to his advantage. All he had to do was live out the day.