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The Most Dangerous Game Analysis

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In the story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and the poem “Porphyria’s Lover” by Robert Browning, the authors use characterization and imagery to convey that the desire for power can drive man to psychotic actions. The authors use characterization to show how the attitudes of both General Zaroff and the narrator of “Porphyria’s Lover”are taken over by this desire of power over other people. In the story “The Most Dangerous Game”, General Zaroff and Rainsford are talking about hunting. Zaroff says how he has gotten bored of hunting just animals, even the vicious jaguars. He thinks no animal is a match for him. Zaroff then leads into telling Rainsford that he hunts man. Zaroff then says, “The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth…” (Connell: Page 35). General Zaroff believes that the weak people of the world were put here to entertain the strong people. He believes in the power that the stronger people have over the weaker people. He is a very cocky person, particularly over his hunting, making him feel even more entitled to that power. Zaroff loves the power he thinks he has over people, especially over whom he is hunting. In the poem “Porphyria’s Lover”, Porphyria comes home from a long day. Her presence warms the cottage as she sits down next to her lover. The narrator then starts saying weird things about Porphyria. He then says,“Too weak, for all her heart’s endeavour, To set its struggling passion free From pride, and vainer ties dissever, And give herself to me for ever” (Browning: Lines 22-25). The narrator wants Porphyria all to himself. She seems to be the one in control of their relationship but, the narrator wants to be the one in control and have that power over her. He is very obsessive and psychotic, which are the characteristics that led him to murdering his lover. Both characters have many characteristics like obsession and cockiness, that makes them want that power and control over the people around them. This characterization shows how needing that power and control leads them to making bad decisions. The authors use imagery to show how wanting

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