The Most Dangerous Game Analysis

"I will not lose my nerve. I will not." is what Rainsford when the General let him go, even in the face of death he keeps his nerve through sheer willpower. Throughout the story, Rainsford continues to be smart and due to this, does not change in any way. This shows how Rainsford is a proficient hunter, and not even the face of death will make him show his true character. This is because Rainsford already is his truest self and does not need any support to reveal that to the reader.

He does this rather than being killed on the spot because he refused to be hunted. Rainsford does not want to simply be killed because he disagreed on General Zaroffs opinion on the object he hunts. Finding the idea absurd, Rainsford reluctantly agrees to be hunted after learning about the terms. This does not automatically make him go insane or change him but rather introduces what he will become. Rainsford sets off running away from General Zaroff trying to remain calm. Rainsford makes his way to a tree and climbs it. A couple hours later when he reaches the top branch of the tree he hears Zaroff coming after him and has to constantly remind himself to remain idle in the tree so he won't be caught. One would see this when Rainsford is travelling through the bushes reciting to himself, "I must keep my nerve, I must keep my nerve, I must keep my nerve" (Connell 229). Rainsford thinks he has a chance at leaving the island but this confidence diminishes when he realizes that he may not make it

Rainsford starts to become unsure of himself and gets very anxious while he is in the forest being hunted by the general. The forest has many places to hide, but Rainsford is paranoid and must keep himself calm. Rainsford deals with his anxiety by telling himself, ‘“I must keep my nerve. I must keep my nerve”’ (11). By telling himself this, Rainsford is able to control himself and he wins the battle against his own mind. In addition, Rainsford uses this technique again when General Zaroff finds him hiding in the tree, but decides not to kill him. Rainsford knows that Zaroff is playing with him, and he starts to become confused about what General Zaroff has planned for him. Rainsford knows the technique he has used before works, and he tells himself again, ‘“I will not lose my nerve. I will not”’ (12). Rainsford must face his own mind again while he is unsure of what Zaroff has in his plans. While being hunted by General Zaroff, Rainsford faces the conflict of man versus

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.

To live you must overcome challenges, defy odds, and in a mental way and physical way, become a strong person. Zaroff says:“Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and if needs be taken by the strong.” Zaroff believes that in order to live in this world comfortably, you must be strong. The general was tough, he hunted the simplest game to the most dangerous. He was physically strong, but not mentally, he gave in. Rainsford, however, was both. For rainsford to win this game. He needed to be mentally and physically quick, which he is. Zaroff said you need to be strong in life, and Rainsford definitely was. He overcame his challenges and was

After the conversations between Rainsford and the General, Rainsford wants to leave, but can not due to the knowledge of Zaroff’s corrupt game; he ends up playing the amoral game for the preservation of his life, although he could lose it.

General Zaroff is similar to Rainsford because they are both intelligent, and Zaroff shows this in the story because of his up-bringing and past experiences. This is seen in the story when it says “I, luckily, have invested in American Securities, so I shall never have to open a Tea room in Monte Carlo, or drive a taxi in Paris.” (Connel 48) This proves Zaroff is intelligent because he foresaw the downfall of the Russian economy, and heavily invested in said American Securities. However, Zaroff is different than Rainsford because he is powerful, which he shows when he explains his quarry to Rainsford. An example of this is seen in the story, which states “To date, I have not lost” … “The most elementary sort of problem” (Connel 50.)This proves Zaroff is powerful, because he fears nothing during the hunt. If anything, he thinks it gets quite boring. Zaroff is also different since he can be described as serious, because of his history with the hunt. In the text, this shown when it says “Hunting was beginning to get boring! And hunting, remember had been my life. I have heard that in America, business men often go to pieces…” (Connel ?) This proves Zaroff is about the hunt because it has sparked a new, welcoming,

Beyond his reactive and resourceful ways of thinking, Rainsford is visibly aggressive and energetic when he has to fight instead of fleeing. He refuses to allow himself to give up and be killed by Zaroff and decides to keep on running forward. As the hunter is escaping, he says, “Nerve, nerve, nerve!” and then “forced himself on toward that gap”, where he “leaped far out into the sea.” (14). Rainsford believed that he still had enough energy left to swim in the harsh waters. As a result, he experienced a rush of adrenaline due to how

Not only does he easily find Rainsford on the first day, the general also has excellent reflexes. As declared by Connell, Zaroff had "the sureness of a bloodhound . . . [the] agility of an ape"(Connell 33) When it came to reflexes and observation, General Zaroff was in a league of his own. As a result, this begs the question: why does this lead to his defeat? A flaw that commonly spawns from brilliance is overconfidence and the boredom of being forever unequaled. A lack of challenge, if you will. Of course, the general had plenty of both. Because the general had gotten so bored of hunting because there was no longer a challenge, he sought out new prey. This would not be a such an inconvenience if Zaroff had only been

Rainsford realized that Zaroff had been playing a game with him. When Zaroff had walked off, Rainsford steeled his nerve and moved on. Rainsford decided to set a trap for Zaroff. If Zaroff trapped in it, a dead tree would fall on him. Soon Zaroff's foot sat off the trap, but he leaped back and only his shoulder was injured. He congratulated Rainsford and told him he was returning to the chateau to get his wound looked at but he would be back. Rainsford fled through the forest.

In The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, General Zaroff is shown as insane, intelligent, and competitive. Zaroff is shown to be insane in the story when he admits he hunts and kills human. “Why should I not be serious? I am speaking of hunting.” “Hunting?

Even though Rainsford tries to stop him, Zaroff still tries to hunt Rainsford down. At the end, Rainsford learns that if you get stuck in a situation you can not get out of, you should not give up and keep trying. Rainsford did not give up and kept trying, and eventually outsmarted Zaroff and beat him at his own game. We are never told that he won the game, but when Zaroff says, “‘You have won the game... On guard, Rainsford,’” we know that Rainsford wins, but to truly win someone has to die.

When Rainsford first meets Generals Zaroff, he is shocked at how civilized and well-kept Zaroff was. Rainsford drank his fancy wine, and ate his borscht. He would not have considered himself superior to General Zaroff at that point, because he was being a gentleman. As Rainsford and Zaroff talk, however, Rainsford gets a grimmer picture that Zaroff is a man-hunter who hunts to please his adventure-seeking spirit. Zaroff was almost pompous as he talked about himself. Zaroff, a man with great spirit for competition, challenged Rainsford to hunt with him. Rainsford believes in the hunt of animals, but not murdering other human beings for pleasure. As the two men hunt, however, adrenaline and prey-like instincts flush over Rainsford and he begins

When the game starts to come to an end, important choices are starting to have to be made. Whether or not Rainsford should stay on the island when trying to escape is an example of a choice that is ideal to his continuation as a character. Rainsford does decide to stay and return to the chateau before Zaroff makes it back. When they meet each other in one of the bedrooms, Zaroff recognizes his defeat as he says, “I congratulate you. You have won the game.”

Rainsford wants to show General Zaroff that he is wrong but he knows that the only way to reason with him is by being hunted. Rainsford knows that he must be quick- witted when he is making these decitions. Rainsford knows that he is morally better that General Zarofff but since Rainsford is so humble he lets his actions speak louder than his word. In the end, they did. It might have helped General