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Most Dangerous Game Literary Analysis

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A Game with no Victor
Imagine being on an island, with no laws, no society, just the need to survive. When a normal hunter is going to Rio to hunt, the story takes a wild turn and ends up inverted, with the hunter becoming the prey. This is the plot of Richard Connell's short story, ”The Most Dangerous Game”, this short story was unique and interesting to most readers because of the series of unfortunate events. In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, man vs. man, along with man vs. self can lead to an unexpected resolution.
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.

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