Reflection For The Most Dangerous Game

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

Every story should have at least one conflict, which tells you about the character and how they act in different situations. But, a story that has all three conflicts is much more interesting. In Richard Connell’s story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford is challenged with all three types of conflict: Man versus nature, man versus himself, and man versus man. Rainsford faces nature as he is stranded in the middle of the sea by himself. Also, Rainsford struggles against his own self while he is being hunted by General Zaroff. Lastly, Rainsford is challenged against another human as he fights Zaroff. Therefore, all three conflicts are faced by Rainsford in the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game.”

“Rainsford said,Hunting? Good God, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder.’” (Connell 70). Rainsford’s personality changes throughout this story, but, the trait of bravery stays true throughout the story. Through his personality trait of bravery Rainsford moves the “Most Dangerous Game” plot forward.

“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 reading it.

Man vs Man takes place in many different places. The majority, if not all of them are between Rainsford and General Zaroff who have very different views on hunting. Even though they are two of the most accomplished hunters in the world Zaroff thinks that murdering is hunting and Rainsford does not. Zaroff then forces Rainsford to put his life on the line and get away from Zaroff so he can save himself. Rainsford eventually comes out on top and confronts General Zaroff as he says ‘“I am still a beast at bay. . . . get ready General Zaroff’”(14). Man vs Man is the most important conflict in the story and is also the main conflict. Without this conflict the other conflicts, Man vs Himself and Man vs Nature would not be possible since they all happen because of Rainsford’s conflict with General Zaroff. There are many examples of the Man vs Man conflict throughout the story.

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.

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.

In “The Most Dangerous Game”, Rainsford is terrified to find that General Zaroff is actually a murder. Rainsford is listening intently to the new “species” that General Zaroff is describing as hunt for his game. General Zaroff has a passion and has become obsessed with hunt because it “had been (his) life”, but sadly “hunting was beginning to bore (him)”. He was eager to continue hunting because of how much he enjoyed it. He needed a new way to satisfy himself while still involving himself in hunting. He decided to go to the extremity of killing people to satisfy himself and make him find new excitement in the one hobby that used to be his life and his source of happiness. General Zaroff’s love and passion for hunting cause him to kill and murder because hunting animals was not satisfying him anymore. Rainsford realizes that he is in the presence of a murderer and when General Zaroff is describing how he has found a new hunt for killing Rainsford figures out that “what (General Zaroff) speak of is murder”. While Zaroff is defending himself by saying that he is not murdering, he does not realize that he sounds foolish because he is saying that he has fallen in love with hunting of humans’ The idea that someone is no joke, but General Zaroff thinks “it’s a game”. Consequently, General Zaroff’s dark side comes through because his love for hunting

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

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.

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.

Underestimation and cruel actions lead to many things. In “The Most Dangerous Game,” author Richard Connell reveals a conflict between 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.

He is put into a situation where he has to swim until he finds shelter. He swims, and “for a seemingly endless time he fought the sea” (Connell 42). After a while, he found an island called Ship Trap Island. So, this shows how he fought against nature. Another example of conflict in this story is when Rainsford has to fight against General Zaroff, who is an expert at hunting humans on Ship Trap Island. As Rainsford gets challenged by Zaroff, he says, “‘Thank you, I’m a hunter, not a murderer’” (49). This shows an example of another external conflict. But, this one is a man verses man conflict because Rainsford is facing a problem with another character in the story. Therefore, Rainsford faces many situations where he has to choose between life or death.