Rainsford Suspense Analysis

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.

Even though clearly distraught Rainsford was able to make key decisions to save his life. “Nerve, nerve, nerve” he panted, as he dashed along …. Then he leaped far into the sea.”(18). This quote tells the reader even while battling nerves and running away from a pack of dogs Rainsford was able to make a imperative choice to save his life. Rainsford survives the three days to beat Zaroff and win the game but still feels uneasy will not rest until General Zaroff is dead. “I am still a beast at bay,” he said, in a low, hoarse voice.” Get ready, General Zaroff.”(18). This quote discloses to the reader that Rainsford felt like quarry and wanted Zaroff dead and was not satisfied with merely winning the game.This quote also shows what kind of man Rainsford is and how he is willing to die for what he feels is right. Rainsford battled many trials throughout the story but somehow managed to make the best out of each one.

This conflict further develops through the hero’s journey archetype and later reveals the theme as the problem is solved. In addition, Richard Connell conveys Rainsford’s initial refusal to confront the problem during the Refusal of the Call, instead telling the general, “ ‘I wish to leave this island at once’ ”(10) and “I will not hunt”(10). Rainsford’s refusal to take part in the general’s sick practice is a natural reaction, and humanizes the character for the reader. The Refusal of the Call is an important aspect of the exposition, because it allows the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the character and make it easier later on to learn the same lesson Rainsford would. Even as Rainsford refuses the call, General Zaroff gives him encouragements and tries to coax him into participating in his hunt, foreshadowing that Zaroff himself would be Rainsford’s Experience with Unconditional Love in the Initiation Stage. Furthermore, in the final third of the Departure Stage, the Beginning of the Adventure, Mr. Connell reveals that the hunt had begun, and that “Rainsford had fought his way through the bush for two hours” (11). The Beginning of the Adventure marks the first event in the rising action of the story, when Rainsford accepted the call and ventured into the unknown wilderness. This section of the archetype is the reason for every other action in the archetype—Rainsford attempting to achieve his goal of not being hunted, overcoming his conflict

Due to Rainsfords sleepless night filled with dismay, he must control his nerve to stay strong from the general. Rainsford is hiding up in the tree to blend in where the general can not see him. As the general approaches the tree, Rainsford believes the general can see him, and Rainsfords fear starts to take over. But soon enough, the general walks away leaving Rainsford in a curious and worried state. Rainsford climbs down from the tree and in exhausted breath he says, “‘ I will not lose my nerve. I will not. “‘ (12). Rainsford knows if the general had stayed any longer, he would have lost his nerve. Also, later in the story as Rainsford is running from the general’s hounds, he yells, “‘Nerve, nerve, nerve!”’(13). The closer Rainsford is to being caught by the general, the closer his never comes to overpower his own strength. Rainsford is fighting against his own fear, to keep ahead in the generals game.

After the General allows small glimpses into his psyche, the fact that he is a disturbed person is temporarily forgotten about as the battle between him and Rainsford begins. In “Hunters in the Snow”, the situation with the shooting occurs early on, but the main focus of the story then transfers to the characters' and their issues for the remainder of the story. Rainsford is the typical hero: He is clever and moral, as opposed to Zaroff who is immoral. Though he claims to be "a beast at bay," Rainsford has now fully reverted to hunter mode, swimming across a small bay to Zaroff's chateau to arrive there before the general can make it back through the jungle.… out the shadowy outlines of a palatial chateau; it was set on a high bluff, and on three sides of it cliffs dived down to where the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows”. Rainsford claims that no animal can reason and when he realizes what Zaroff is doing, he calls it cold-blooded murder. Zaroff retreats to the chateau, assuming he has won the game. The General explains, "hunting was beginning to bore him," and reveals that he had to invent a new animal to hunt, one that must have "courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason. Rainsford survives, winning the game. A story, which relies on action, coincidence and surprise, is precisely the motivation that Connell needs to create a memorable commercial fiction. Rainsford is given the impression that General Zaroff is a wealthy and prominent hunter. "

Connell utilizes the strength of the story by combining the setting with mood to observe the reaction of the characters when the environment around them changes. For example, as the "poisonous [air]'; engulfs the yacht, it gives Whitney "a mental chill; a sort of sudden dread'; as Rainsford and him sail precariously towards the island (62). Whitney, frightened by the grim nature around him, feels like a wounded bird fighting for its life among the hungry predators hiding in the unknown. The shroud of darkness completely surrounds not only Whitney, but the entire yacht which leaves him in a state of anxiety because of what lies in cover amid the dreadful island. Furthermore, as the eyes of Zaroff scatter over the island, searching for Rainsford, "Rainsford froze there, every muscle tensed'; afraid that the eyes will see (73). With shelter high above in the trees, away from Zaroff, Rainsford awaits for the perfect moment where he will jump down from among the sky and pounce on Zaroff like a leopard killing its prey. Consequently, while Rainsford keeps repeating the moment of victory inside his mind; the self-confidence, overflowing out of his veins, develops into uncertainty. Since Zaroff possesses the island and with his military expertise, scouts the island for any advantages in hunt; Rainsford fears that Zaroff will counter the surprise attack and kill him, making the hunter become the prey. When Connell interweaves setting into mood, the method he uses touches

The literary element of suspense also plays a key role in further emphasizing Connell’s theme that humans possess both reason and instinct. From the beginning of the story Connell repeatedly uses suspense starting from the second Whitney brings up the mysterious island to the very end of the hunt. During the hunt is when the theme becomes most prevalent. Although Rainsford wishes to take the life of Zaroff, he remains more man than animal by keeping his

Thus through this experience he began learning about how the animals felt in his previous hunting experiences. During his battle royal fight with the general he had used his experience and knowledge of hunting to catch and kill the general. Consequently he was now violating his own golden rule, loosing his values of not killing humans. Through this action he went through a metamorphosis becoming the “brute”. This newfound outlook lead him learn about what it is like to be the one being hunted. After there continual exchange of mental torment Rainsford enters the main house to murder the general. Something is different though he doesn’t stop when the general said “you have won” he doesn’t care anymore, he just wants to kill him. We can see this when Rainsford says “I am still a beast at bay”. We can see that the use of the language technique of dramatic irony is empathetic towards this scene. The use of this technique shows us that he (who was the hunter of the beast) has now become the beast in the hunt. This emphasizes the idea that Rainsfords experiences of being hunted has changed him and shows how Connell was trying to express the idea that your experiences shape you, and how you learn from it will shape who you are. We can also see how Connells message about learning and experience is expressed through the use of the language technique of metaphor. We can see that this use of metaphor shows us how he has become a “beast”. Through this it

“... he stopped before he has swum 50 feet. A certain coolheadedness had come to him; it was not the 1st time he had been in a tight place (20, 21). This example is just after Rainsford fell off of the yacht. His initial instinct was to pursue after the boat, Rainsford tries but fails. He then depends on long-term reasoning to grab hold of the situation and lead himself back to safety. Instead, If this man's reasoning did not come into play he most likely would have lost his energy and not have the capability of finding shipwreck island and drown. This is one example of many in the story when using reason instead of instinct kept the main character safe and alive, his instinct most likely would have left him

Rainsford’s best friend is the sea until it brought him to the General’s Ship Trap Island. Once Rainsford safely swims to the island, he is relieved. The narrator even says, “All he knew was that he was safe from his enemy, the sea. . . ”(3). Rainsford knows that he cannot escape the island since there is nowhere to swim to. Now he is stuck on Ship Trap Island. The brave sailor is protected from the sea for now, but not from Death Swap and its quicksand. Rainsford is trying to escape from the general until he met the deadly quicksand of the island. The author writes, “Then, he stepped forward, his foot sank into the ooze. He tried to wrench it back, but the muck sucked viciously at his foot as if it were a giant leech” (12). Determined to survive, Rainsford dug his

In life, every action precipitates a reaction, and facing challenge become significant. On the sixth day, Elroy take Tim on the Rainy River to fish, which becomes instrumental to guide Tim to his epiphany. When he is “on the margin of exile”, the collision of self-respect and insecurity aggravates. On the bow, Tim listens to the treacherous waves hitting the boat and feels the brisk wind pounding his face. The sound of silence coerces him into making a decision. There is a “hard squeezing pressure in [his] chest”. He is terrified. He does not know what to think. I do not want to leave my family and my childhood and my dreams and all I have behind! I am not ready to die! What am I suppose to do? Jump? Or stay? He tries to swallow his tears; instead one runs down his face after another. The safe haven---Canada reaches out a helping hand and pleads, “You must jump! At least you get to live a normal life!” He grips on the edge of the boat, leans forward, ready to jump overboard; a force is dragging him

The story takes place on an island. The island is called "Shipwreck island" because it is in an area that is very treacherous for ships and is home to a lunatic (Connell 25). The lunatic's name is Gen- eral Zaroff, and he is a big game hunter. In fact he hunts the "the most dangerous game" which are humans (Connell 32). Rainsford is made the object of Zaroff's hunt which forces him to try and escape or die. Rainsford responds to his restricted environ- ment on the island by using his smarts to avoid his pursuers and to lay traps for the general. Rainsford's response respresents a different personality than Harrison. One example of Rainsford using his wit to outsmart the general is when he is just about to be captured and builds a "Malay Mancatcher" to try and catch the general (Connell 42). This example clearly shows how knowledgeable and prepared Rainsford is even is the toughest environment. In addition, before he is thrown out into the wilderness on the jungle and discovers the true nature if his fate he asks lots of questions including, "What do you mean...?", and, "And if they win...?", so that he can figure out the situation and maybe possible find a way to win the game (Connell 36). Rainsford responds

Rainsford had arrived on the shore of Ship-Trap Island after falling off a yacht. According to the narrator, “Bleak darkness was blacking out the sea and jungle when Rainsford sighted the lights” (Connell 45). The island Rainsford arrived on was filled with darkness, with light only coming from Zaroff’s château. The use of setting signifies the importance of where the story is taking place. In the beginning of the story, the island was described as dark, giving a feeling of indistinction.This setting first overwhelmed Rainsford, for he did not know what to do. The setting of the jungle is described as a location of being constrictive because it did not allow Rainsford to return back home. Rainsford used his instinct to navigate though the unknowns of Ship-Trap Island. Zaroff had the confidence of navigating the island’s challenges, so he distrusted his instinct. While setting helped reveal the message of the story, characterization also supported the author’s argument.

As Rainsford holds his breath, awaiting to figure if General Zaroff can spot him, his muscles are tense, and the composure is slipping away as it is his last grasp to save his humanity. Falling off his yacht, Rainsford, rapidly swimming in a form of desperation to save his life, he falls for the trap General Zaroff has used to capture hundreds of other victims, leading him to the island where he fights for his life. This short story shows how Rainsford, the protagonist, goes through his struggles of being hunted, when he is used to being the hunter. Not only does he face damage physically, but emotionally as well. Rainsford now has to recall his skills in hunting, as he is being challenged by the antagonist, who’s elevated ego is evident. In