Protagonists In The Most Dangerous Game, By Richard Connell

In the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, readers are presented with a simple instance of role reversal between the hunter and the prey; Rainsford, a famous hunter, who is also the protagonist of the story experiences what it feels to be the prey. This switch eventually foreshadows the implied moral of the story. Contradictory to Rainsford’s initial apathy towards the game in the literary fiction “The Dangerous Game”, Rainsford from his experience with Zaroff (a fellow experienced hunter) learns to be more emphatic to his prey.

Is Hunting a game? In Richard Connell’s "Dangerous Game", we are presented with these very talented hunters. General Zaroff who was raised a little bit different then Rainsford. General Zaroff was rich and probably had lessons with a professional hunter, which made him become one, but Rainsford manages to be more skilled at hunting. When General Zaroff wanted to play the "Dangerous Game" with Rainsford at the end of the story, Rainsford finally felt what an animal at bay feels which made him better, so he took matters into own hands. so I believe that Rainsford is the better hunter. He is a clever hunter , he is much stronger, and has a better attitude towards human life, which General Zaroff clearly doesn’t care about.

Connell shows the reader the ugliness of humanity and the one-sided thought process of the human mind through irony in his storyline. "’For the hunter,’ amended Whitney. ‘Not for the jaguar.’ ‘Don't talk rot, Whitney,’ said Rainsford. ‘You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?’ ‘Perhaps the jaguar does,’ observed Whitney.” (Connell). Rainsford remarks that he does not care about the feeling of the jaguar. This is ironic because Rainsford himself is later hunted like the jaguar. He then learns the fear and pain of being prey. Rainsford crouches amid the leaves of the tree where he hides and Zaroff watches him from beneath. After Zaroff departs, Rainsford then admits that he knows the full meaning of terror. This quote helps to show parallels the terrors seen in war. "’you’ll find this game worth playing,’ the General said enthusiastically" (Connell). This is ironic because what Zaroff intends to do is hardly a game and instead Rainsford is running from Zaroff for his life, which is definitely not a game that is 'worth playing'. Richard Connell in addition uses irony to show the way that hunting is a game to Zaroff but is in reality a matter of life and death. "Rainsford admires Zaroff's collection of trophy heads, declaring that he believes the Cape Buffalo to be the most dangerous game of all. Zaroff demurs without providing details, suggesting that he has stocked his island with even something far more menacing” (D’Ammassa). Hunting is his main occupation in life, and he is rich enough to indulge himself. Zaroff is the hunter who exists only for the pleasure of the chase and the kill. His interests are selfish, his actions amoral. Zaroff refuses to immediately divulge the nature of the game he hunts, but he insists that he has invented “a new sensation.” Zaroff then tells his host that he had grown bored with hunting because he always

Short stories can teach a reader different life lessons, however without the use of literary elements these stories get boring. Richard Connell uses different literary elements to tell the story of a man playing a hunting game to save his own life in “The Most Dangerous Game”. Louise Erdrich also uses literary elements to tell a child’s story through flashback in “The Leap”. Both stories use lots of literary elements, however Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” uses them better.

In most stories, there are two main characters, the protagonist, and the antagonist. The protagonist is typically the “hero” or “good guy” of the story, while the antagonist is usually the “villain” or “bad guy” of the story. In “The Most Dangerous Game” a short story by Richard Connell, General Zaroff is the antagonist. He is cruel and is the character who creates the conflict for the protagonist, Rainsford, throughout the story. In the first place, General Zaroff asks Rainsford why should he “not be serious’ when he refers to killing humans as “hunting” (70). This quote reveals how cruel General Zaroff is because it shows that he believes that killing a human is the same as killing an animal. When in reality, killing a human is cruel and it is not “hunting” it is murder.

In the opening of the story Rainsford, a big game hunter, is travelling to the Amazon to hunt jaguars via boat. During this voyage he is having a conversation with his friend Whitney. On the tripe they talk about hunting and the feelings of animals. Rainsford states, “You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?” (Connell 60). Rainsford doesn’t care about the hunted, only the hunter has feelings. In the short story he even says, “The world is made up of two classes - the hunters and the hunters. Luckily, you and

In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, the protagonist, Sanger Rainsford falls off his boat while on his way to South America to hunt jaguars. He washes ashore on of Ship-Trap Island, a retreat owned by the antagonist, General Zaroff. Initially, Rainsford and Zaroff have similar views on the world and about hunting, but the initial admiration Zaroff has for Rainsford turns sour when Zaroff shares with Rainsford his new “big-game” animal: Humans. Zaroff’s view of Rainsford shifts radically when he shares with Rainsford his novel new sport. In the beginning of the story Zaroff regards Rainsford as a like mind and a great hunter. He has read Rainsford’s “book about hunting snow leopards,”

The short story “The Most Dangerous Game” written by Richard Connell is a practical literature. This short story portrays terror or fear, a sense of danger, and also the hatred that animals feel for their killer at the same time as making a contemporary correlation to real life. The short story was written during the era when animal hunting was common with the rich folks. “The Most Dangerous Game” as the name implies, is indeed a dangerous game. The story is about a man named Rainsford and his struggle to win a game of hunting against the opponent General Zaroff. Rainsford fell off a yacht in the Caribbean Sea and so he swam to the seashore of a bewildering island. Rainsford was able to find his way to a house that belonged to General Zaroff. The hunting game began after Rainsford met with Zaroff and his servant Ivan, then Rainsford realized how uncultured General Zaroff actually is.

A story with no plot, is a story with no guideline. A plot without conflict, results in a dull and obnoxious story. For example, in the novel, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the story would eventually bore the reader if there is no fighting, death or rivalry. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell is most certainly not a dull story. An interesting plot needs action and conflict. For instance, Rainsford struggles not to drown when he is thrown overboard. He also reassures himself repeatedly in order to not give in to his negative thoughts. Furthermore, Rainsford participates in the hunt with General Zaroff to fight for his life. The three major conflicts, man against nature, man against man, and man against himself are needed for the story.

Rainsford acts as Zaroff’s foil because he demonstrates himself to be an unethical hunter when he replies to Whitney, “Who cares how a jaguar feels?”(19) showing his lack of empathy for his quarry. His rhetorical answer of “who cares” disrespects his quarry’s feeling going against the hunter’s model for respecting their quarry before and after the kill. Moreover, Rainsford carries hubris believing “only the devil”(32) can follow his trail and when Zaroff accomplishes such a feat, Rainsford believes that by the “merest chance has the Cossack failed”(34) showing that he does not acknowledge his shortcomings or Zaroff’s skill. Rainsford brags about his abilities yet makes excuses when he does not succeed, displays his lack of sportsmanship and disqualifies himself to be an ethical hunter.

In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game”, Richard Connell shows how human life can be reduced to the level of animals by using literary devices such as metaphors and similes to prove his point. This is shown at the beginning of the novel when Rainsford (the main character), tells his friend Whitney about his belief on the importance of quarry. “‘You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?”’ (Connell 2). This shows how Rainsford believes that the animal being hunted is not important, and does not matter, since he is a hunter, and he enjoys it. On the other hand Whitney believes the quarry should get sympathy because it is getting hunted and killed. Later in the short story Rainsford meets a man named General

            The second part to this is that supposedly, when Rainsford is being hunted by Zaroff, he empathizes with animals and gains respect for them.  This is absurd.  Rainsford relates to his situation as still being a hunter, not as being an animal.  For example, his initial strategy is “I’ll give him a trail to follow,” muttered Rainsford, [...] He executed a series of intricate loops; he doubled on his trail again and again, recalling the lore of the fox hunt, and all the dodges of the fox.  Rainsford used his mind, not his instinct, to guide him.  Not only is this the

character theme it is no surprise how often Rainsford and Zaroff disagree with one another. These disagreements, and reactions to them, say a lot about each character. In the beginning, Zaroff explains how he prepares the humans he hunts, and likes to keep things in order, so he doesn’t mar their ability to survive. However, Rainsford doesn’t think highly of that idea of his. In the text Rainsford states, “Civilized? And you shoot down men?” (11). Connell uses this statement to establish that Rainsford isn’t as insane as Zaroff, and he believes what he is doing is wrong. Zaroff doesn't want to create a havoc when he hunts the sailors, so he tries to organize it more, thinking that makes him more civilized, but Rainsford completely disagrees. The fact that he thinks hunting men in an organized fashion makes it better completely baffles Rainsford. When Rainsford surprises Zaroff at the end they both decide that they want to obliterate each other, especially Rainsford. In the passage it says, “One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed… He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.” (19). This piece is used to indicate that although Rainsford changed his views on animal’s feelings he still is barbaric. Zaroff and Rainsford may make changes about themselves, but they will forever have a hunter’s, or decimating, mentality towards things. This is shown when they decide killing each other is the best option

In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell entertains readers with a story of a mysterious island inhabited by a dark, violent, soul. Rainsford, the protagonist, hears superstitious stories about “Ship-Trap Island” that he does not believe, but he soon learns that the evil surrounding the island stems from a hunter called General Zaroff. General Zaroff is a thrill-seeking character full of racist arrogance. General Zaroff is bored easily and is constantly searching for new hunting challenges to entertain him. He states clearly to Rainsford, “I live for danger.”

In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford is first revealed as an advocate of hunting, however, external conflict indicates a change in Rainsford. At the start of the story, Rainsford expresses his philosophy concerning hunting. “Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes -- the huntees and hunters”(2). This