Darwinism Depicted In 'The Most Dangerous Game'

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.”

A quote from the general on page 225 shows how he feels about the value of human life. It says, “I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life.” With this quote from General Zaroff, the reader can tell that his views on hunting are far different from Rainsford’s. One page 225, another quote says, ““Dear me,” said the general quite unruffled, “again that unpleasant word. But I think I can show you that your scruples are quite ill founded.”” By looking at this quote, when Connell says that the general was “quite unruffled,” this means that General Zaroff was not bothered at all when Rainsford accused him of murder. This also shows that the general is trying to convince Rainsford to try hunting humans with him, even though Rainsford had already refused his offer. The claim that General Zaroff’s morals concerning hunting are much different than Rainsford’s moral views on the subject. This tension that builds in the previous quotes between Rainsford and General Zaroff make the story have and exciting feel to it, and foreshadows that something very astonishing will soon

In the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” by Richard Connell, Sanger Rainsford, a famous hunter, finds himself on Ship-Trap island after falling overboard a yacht. After arriving on the island, he meets its owner, General Zaroff, another avid hunter. He soon discovers that General Zaroff has grown bored of hunting animals, and now he hunts men he traps on the island. The protagonist, Rainsford and the antagonist, General Zaroff have conflicting morals, attitudes, and personalities. These differences cause them to become mortal enemies, pitted against each other in a game to the death. During the rising action of the story, General Zaroff explains to Rainsford that he hunts humans because he has become

Survival of the fittest is shown throughout the entirety of the story as well. It is the true belief of Zaroff. Zaroff believes that “fittest” is not only the body, but also the mind. He loses interest in his game when it is no longer a challenge. He wanted to hunt something that could predict his next move and make him work for the kill. This is when he decided to hunt humans. Up until the day he hunted Rainsford, he had never met his match. Rainsford used a series of traps, decoys and hiding places in order to outthink and escape Zaroff. The first day that Zaroff did not successfully find Rainsford, he accepted his defeat and thanked Rainsford for the joy of the hunt. When he was struggling to find him, he sent out his hunting dogs with the thought that they would be able to track him down and make his hunt easier for him. He was proved wrong when Rainsford outsmarted him, proving that he was more “fit” than the dogs. (Connell’s The Most

In order to feel satisfied, humans naturally find an activity to do when they encounter themselves no longer entertained. In the case of “The Most Dangerous Game,” written by Richard Connell, General Zaroff creates exactly what the titles states, the most dangerous game, a game of hunting the only animal that can reason: humans. This is quite ironic because Zaroff has all the wealth and power to do anything, but creates this game only to escape his boredom. Connell wrote “The Most Dangerous Game” with Rainsford as the main character, a role most typically associated with the archetypal hero. However, with an understanding of the story, readers question whether Rainsford really is the hero, his values of humans and animals, and the possibility of him becoming the villain, provoking readers to realize that the cycle of violence and oppression goes on even if believed to already be conquered.

"The world is made up of two classes - the hunters and the huntees.” In the short story The Most Dangerous Game which was written by Richard Connell there are two main characters, Rainsford and General Zaroff. Rainsford thought that General Zaroff wanted to hunt with him when in all reality General Zaroff wanted to hunt him(Rainsford) himself. Richard Connell uses irony, theme and characterization to develop the plot and characters. The use of these literary devices suggests that Connell wanted to make the story more interesting and suspenseful so the reader can enjoy it.

General Zaroff is clearly not under control with his hunting habits. General Zaroff creates for himself, a dangerous hunting game. More dangerous than all the rest, an animal can reason and feel.This animal is a human. The general has gone over the edge. By following his instincts and making his desires reality, general Zaroff now has access to this dangerous game. He hunts and kills them with a pistol, disregards their feelings, and treats them like animals. Some people, such as Rainsford, have decided that obeying the law and sticking to the principles is better than following nature. Rainsford says,“Thank you, I'm a hunter not a murderer.” Rainsford chooses to be civil and lawful. Rainsford quite obviously has more control over his actions than the general. The general gives into his dark side and gives into his guilty desire to hunt animal that has reason, courage, and cunningness. Rainsford chooses not to because he knows wrong from right. But perhaps, when dealing with your human nature you must succumb to your darkest

A man gets hunted by another man on the deserted Ship-Trap Island in the middle of the Caribbean. Rainsford, the protagonist in “The Most Dangerous Game”, a short story written by Richard Connell, gets hunted by General Zaroff. Rainsford abounds with fear, making him crazy. General Zaroff’s arrogance causes him to feel that he possesses the right to hunt the people he captures. His arrogance causes him to commit gruesome things; in this case, murder. Prior to becoming another man’s prey, Rainsford feels that animals have no feelings, but he sympathizes for animals being hunted after he himself becomes prey. His feelings and opinions transform after this experience. “The Most Dangerous Game” consists of three central themes: fear makes an individual crazy, arrogance causes hurtful actions, and some experiences have the potential to alter an individual’s opinion.

Hunting big game animals for sport was a popular pastime with the wealthy classes following World War I. The morality of killing for sport was not questioned in reality, but in this short story the author does question it by taking it a step further and having the protagonist, Sangor Rainsford, hunted by the antagonist, General Zaroff.In a short story full of irony, one of the greatest ironies of Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” is that General Zaroff repeatedly tells Rainsford that he maintains a sense of civilization on his island.

The protagonist in the story, Rainsford is a hypocrite. First of all, in the beginning Rainsford says to his colleague that there are “two people in the world, the hunters, and the huntees, and luckily for us, we are the hunters.” He believes that he has authority over the animals and he may kill them for game as he pleases. However, when he arrives on Ship Trap Island and meets General Zaroff, his perspective changes. General Zaroff reveals that he hunts humans in “the most dangerous game” and Rainsford believes that it’s brutal and savage as he believes that all humans are equal. However, he still feels no guilt killing animals, as he believes that he is superior to them. Secondly, he believes that humans are very different from

In “The Most Dangerous Game” life can get to a point where survival is the last option, but in “The Most Dangerous Game” things take a completely different approach. Rainsford went overboard and sought refuge, so he swam to an island. Rainsford spots a house on top of a cliff, when he talks to General Zaroff (the landlord), he talks about a particular type of game unlike any other, “ ‘Oh,’ said the general, ‘it supplies me with the most exciting hunting in the world. No other hunting compares with it for an instant. Every day I hunt, and I never grow bored now, for I have a quarry with which I can match my wits.’ ” (Page 7). Rainsford rapidly put the pieces together, with the multiple clues given, like how the name of the island was called “Ship-Trap”, Zaroff also said that this is the a smart, cunning, and is full of courage. Rainsford was able to comprehend the clues and with no doubt, he knew that Zaroff was talking about humans. This means that he was the game, and had to choose if he was going to be the hunter or the hunted. Rainsford's life was on the line, so he took this situation very crucial and acted fast,” ‘Rainsford had fought his way through the bush for two hours. ‘I must keep my nerve. I must keep my nerve,’ he said through tight teeth.” (page 11). After Rainsford realized he was being hunted he took a moment to mentally prepare himself for the next series of events to unfold. Rainsford was able to not give up and let his life crumble so in order for Rainsford to keep his life he would have to make sure his footprints were covered so he couldn’t be tracked down. Usually man vs. man is usually the last option available, but in this case, it was the first option.

People are like onions; they have several layers and consist of a bitter core. In consideration of this reality of human nature and reality of a man-made society, “The Most Dangerous Game”, written by Richard Connell, reveals these dangers. It unveils the truth about blood lusting hunters and defines the meaning of civilization. In the story, just like in the real world, so-called rules and laws are made to suppress and dignify human savageness. Here, Sanger Rainsford and General Zaroff are two essential characters—capable of virtuous actions, yet prone to decisions that reflect immoral tendencies, and so; a message is conveyed: without the practice of morals and consequences, corruption of man is inevitable.

Sanger Rainsford is a civil man who respects human life in the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” written by Richard Connell. Rainsford thinks killing humans for sport is inhumane and murderous. On the other hand Zaroff is unintelligent, overconfident and finds hunting humans for sport is normal and entertaining. Rainsford also being knowledgeable and polite and is proved multiple times in the text by quotes, details and thoughts of Rainsford and General Zaroff.

What does it take to survive when you are the hunted? In Richard Conell’s “The Most Dangerous Game”, an expert hunter does not think that his prey have feelings. This changes when the hunter, Rainsford, becomes the hunted. In order to beat the opponent he never thought he would meet, Rainsford resorts to his experience, quick-thinking, and perseverance to survive Zaroff’s dangerous game.

“The Most Dangerous Game” concept of the hunt and survival never change throughout the story. At the beginning, we see Rainsford as the hunter and later we also see him as the hunted. The will to survive is portrayed as General Zaroff is hunting