Physical Strength In The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

Mental Strength is the most valuable strength in a survival situation because it can not be lost or taken away from someone. According to Caroline Alexander’s article “The Voyage of the James Caird” the crew of the James Caird needed mental strength to survive the dangerous journey. In the article she writes “Worsley, despite the rank discomfort, was in his element. He was conscious of being in the midst of a great adventure---which had been his life’s ambition”(Alexander 185). Here it is shown that despite the physical challenges Worsley was still able to maintain his mental strength which kept him going. Similar to the crew of the James Caird Sherpas that climb Mt. Everest to transport goods also need mental strength to make it through their job. In the article “The Value of the Sherpa Life” by Grayson Schaffer it states “And perhaps most significantly, the amount of time that Sherpas spend making laps through the deadly Khumbu Icefall and up the Lhotse Face”(Schaffer 218). Schaffer explains that despite the physically grueling laps their mental strength which kept them going was maintained. Similar to the Sherpas of Mt. Everest and the crew of the James Caird in Elie Wiesel’s memoir Night he needed mental strength to survive in the concentration camps of World War II. In the book it says “An icy wind was blowing violently. But we marched without faltering”(Wiesel 85). Shown here is that even when the physical conditions were anything but pleasant Eliezer

From the words of C.S. Lewis, “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny”. Facing hardships and breaking free from their normal world allows the hero inside of people to come out. Many stories document this journey of a hero through the Hero’s Journey Archetype. In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, a man named Rainsford stumbles upon an island where humans are hunted by a crazed man. The hero’s journey archetype is implemented throughout Rainsford’s experiences in the story. Richard Connell used the Hero’s Journey Archetype to structure the plot and develop the theme that with clever thinking and lots of hope, one can succeed at anything.

Underestimation and cruel actions lead to many things. In “The Most Dangerous Game,” author Richard Connell reveals a conflict between the main characters, General Zaroff and Rainsford. Rainsford was to play the most dangerous game created by Zaroff, because the only way to survive, is to win it, otherwise death is the only other option. As demonstrated through the use of personification, symbolism, and repetition in the story, it conveys that one should understand to never underestimate another person and remember that there will always be a consequence for the wicked things that one has done.

C.S. Lewis one said “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny”. Facing hardships and breaking free from their normal world allows the hero inside of people to come out. Many stories document this journey of a hero through the Hero’s Journey Archetype. In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, a man named Rainsford stumbles upon an island where humans are hunted by a crazed man. The hero’s journey archetype is implemented throughout Rainsford’s experiences in the story. Richard Connell used the Hero’s Journey Archetype to structure the plot and develop the theme that with clever thinking and the use of past experiences, one can succeed at anything.

Fear is one of the most powerful killers. Fear is a strong emotion, from the thought of danger or pain. In the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game”, by Richard Connell, fear is demonstrated in 3 different ways throughout the story. Rainsford has to fight against his lack of sleep and anxiety in order to beat general Zaroff. Along with fighting himself, Rainsford must compete against Zaroff to stay alive through the strange game. Without the setup of Zaroff’s island, beating Rainsford would be nearly impossible. Therefore, Rainsford has more than just Zaroff to fight off in this story. Without the three major conflicts of man versus nature, man versus man , and man versus himself, this story would not be possible.

All too often we do not think about our personal strength until a situation arises that causes us to use this natural attribute that we know as strength.

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.

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.

Imagine you, a well known hunter, are stranded on a humid, tropical island with no wildlife other than a psychotic man. This psychopath is a fellow hunter, but desires to poach even greater and smarter game with extremely high intelligence, and is the smartest animal of all -- humans. Throughout the story, the author creates a suspenseful mood through several conflicts the main character encounters, while struggling to survive the “most dangerous game.” In Richard Connell’s short adventure story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford, a hunter, travels to South America on a hunting expedition, when he carelessly falls off his yacht and into the Caribbean Sea. Struggling to find a place to rest, he swims to an island off in the distance. Upon reaching the island, he comes across a large building where he is warmly welcomed by the owner of the establishment, also a renowned hunter, named General Zaroff, only to find that he is a lunatic. After learning of General Zaroff’s sins, Rainsford is challenged by the general in a game of life and death, and their specialty, hunting. From beginning to end, the author of this short survival story creates a suspenseful mood through the three main conflicts the main character encounters.

When one is hunting, do they ever stop to think about how it feels to be the prey? In Richard Connell’s short story, “The Most Dangerous Game”, the character Rainsford has a change of opinion and feelings to this very question. In the beginning of the story, Rainsford is on a ship with a colleague and expresses that he is only concerned about the feelings of himself as the hunter and not those of the “huntee”. Not long after falling off the ship and arriving to a nearby island is it that Rainsford experiences what it is like to be the huntee. Connell uses many transitions within in the story that leads the reader in suspense and encourages them to keep reading. The transitions are first when Rainsford falls off the ship and approaches the island, when allows him to come into his house and stay, and when the hunt results in the two going against each other.

For an abundance of stories the conflicts do not include man vs. man, man vs. nature, or man vs. himself. In the story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell this is not the case. The main character Rainsford is frequently facing multiple struggles. The story would not keep you on the edge of your seats the same way unless he is constantly fighting through something no matter how big or small the problem is. For example Rainsford the sailor fights nature in this story. In addition to this, he struggles through the toughness and wits of other men. Furthermore, in this story Rainsford puts up with himself as he fights his mind running through the jungle constantly making last minute, and risky decisions. This story shows countless examples of man vs. man, man vs. nature, and even man vs. himself.

Whenever people go to the movies or read a book, they long for an interesting story to be entertained by. Whether it is action filled or suspenseful, they want a stimulating plot that makes them feel good. In 1952, Carl Foreman wrote the screenplay for a movie called High Noon; a classic tale of when the hunter becomes the hunted. Then in 1924, Richard Connell wrote another classic, called "The Most Dangerous Game". Although both stories demonstrate similar examples of the setting and conflict, the main characters react very differently to the unusual situations they find themselves stuck in.

Alfred Hitchcock once said “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.” This idea proves to be true in Richard Connell’s short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” as Rainsford is constantly in fear from the anticipation of being caught by Zaroff. At the beginning Rainsford shows that he is a great hunter and shows no fear. When he is forced to play his game he is fearful and is scared for his life. The setting relates to the story by building suspense.

In the story “The Most Dangerous Game” by, Richard Connell, there is a magnificent story about the literary conflict of man vs. man, man vs nature, and man vs himself. Rainsford’s life is like a ticking timer that might just explode any second now. Rainsford goes through a lot to stay alive, yet he wanted Zaroff to know how it feels to get hunted and killed, so he risks his life to win.

Richard Edward Connell was an American author, who was probably most famous for the short story “The Most Dangerous Game.” Connell started writing at the age of 10 covering baseball games for his father 's paper. By the age of sixteen he had become the editor of the Poughkeepsie News-Press. Connell was a very smart man who studied at Georgetown and Harvard.While at Harvard he was the editorial chairman. Connell 's writing style was usually action-adventure. Some of his works were probably inspired from his time working as a homicide journalist, and serving in World War I. By the time Connell passed away he had published over 300 short stories. Richard Connell was a very unique author from experiences he had through out his life, and so was the writing style that he portrayed.