In Richard Connell's short story"The Most Dangerous Game," the protagonist Sanger Rainsford is selfish, unsympathetic, and cruel. In the beginning, Rainsford talks to Whitney about the prey’s, in this case, the animal's perspective while being hunted, like how they feel. Rainsford and Whitney butt heads. Rainsford’s philosophy is much like Zaroff's. Rainsford disagrees with Whitney, who believes that animals can comprehend the fear of pain and death. Rainford exposes his selfishness and lack of empathy by saying, “‘Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes-the hunters and the huntees. Luckily you and I are hunters’”(2). His actions throughout the story show his cruelty too. Rainsfords profession is killing animals, and while he does …show more content…
However, it does not change for the better. In the middle of the story when he finds out Zaroff hunts fellow human beings, to Zaroff's surprise, Rainsford’s thought and reaction is utter shock and disbelief. “‘But you can’t mean-’ gasped Rainsford. ‘And why not?’”(10). Zaroff knowing Rainsford was a great hunter he hoped that Rainsford would accompany him on a hunt; however, Rainsford accuses him of being a cold-blooded killer. Although, now it seems that Rainsford has adopted General Zaroff's cold attitude toward killing humans, so if Rainsford has changed, it was not to a better person but to a worse. From first no sympathy for animals to no sympathy for men. One way it seems that way is he kills Ivan with no pang of guilt. Some might say that's not murder that's just self-defense. But if that's the case then why does Rainsford after claiming victory and safety from death go to Zaroff's room at night and kills him. “‘You have won the game.’ Rainsford did not smile. ‘I am still a beast at bay…’Get ready General Zaroff’” (20) He doesn’t kill Zaroff for any reason other than revenge. By beast at bay Rainsford is saying he doesn’t have anywhere to go, so he wants to fight Zaroff, until someone dies which is ironic because Rainsford states that he is against killing another human being when he first meets Zaroff at the beginning of the story. However, he is now ready to fight to the death, which shows that his opinion has changed. That just makes him no better than Zaroff “the murderer”. It seems as if Zaroff has passed on his role to Rainsford and he is now the new Zaroff. How else can he sleep so well if he feels remorse over killing a fellow human? Zaroff told him he could leave the island if he won but he stays. Rainsford changes for the worse from a hunter to a murder following in Zaroff's
Since Zaroff is hunting humans, one of them is most likely to die. Murder can not go unpunished. Rainsford would most likely have died if he didn’t kill Zaroff. Some may say that one should never kill no matter what. Well, if Rainsford himself never killed Zaroff, he would have died.
In conclusion, Richard Connell uses light, civility, and religious symbolism to demonstrate General Zaroff’s facade. Throughout the story, Zaroff uses light to symbolize darkness because he uses the light to lure people to his chateau. Connell uses civility to show the General’s facade because his visitors receive a nice place to stay, a meal, and shows politeness. Zaroff uses his politeness to trap the people, so he can use them for his prey. Religious symbolism is used in Connell's story to show that Zaroff decides that everyone is hunted while playing the game, which shows that he could be referred to as God because God chooses life or death; although, he can be referred to as the Devil, he kills people for entertainment.
I think what pushed Rainsford into killing Zaroff was that he felt as though he had no choice to to kill him or be killed. When the author states “Rainsford did not smile. “I am still a beast at bay,” he said, in a low, hoarse voice.” in page 42, I think that sentence kind of summarize exactly that. I don’t think what Rainsford did would be considered murder to a certain extent.
Rainsford is a witty and caring character. The passion Rainsford has, devotes his entire life to hunting, but Zaroff obsession is much more extreme, Zaroff was
Rainsford is a competitive hunter just like Zaroff so there is a possibility he killed Zaroff because he is stubborn and wanted to win, which would lead him to be guilty and have a more intense punishment. In the end I think even if it was for survival rainsford will have to serve some jail time for his actions. I believe Rainsford should serve some jail time because he did push Zaroff’s body off the window and let the dogs eat his flesh, pushing Zaroff’s body off was unnecessary but the actually murder has its own punishments. Do you think he should be in jail for murdering Zaroff even if it was for his own protection? , keep in mind that Rainsford would be guilty for many things he has done as
Also, General Zaroff is an extreme hunter and doesn’t find pleasure in hunting regular animals. Zaroff says the most dangerous game is humans because they have the ability to reason. Rainsford is going to be hunted and is given a certain amount of time to survive. Moreover, while Rainsford is being hunted Zaroff
Throughout the story, Rainsford demonstrates a complex and evolving character
In the beginning, he supported the notion that hunting is acceptable. However, after being put in the position of the hunted Rainsford learns what it’s like to have to run for his life, bringing up the idea of whether or not it is acceptable to kill. After trying to simply hide from his pursuer, it becomes unclear whether or not Rainsford will fight back. He could either give up or kill Zaroff to save his life. The building tensions to his decision creates suspense which directly affects the theme.
In Richard Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game" is about well-known American hunter, Sanger Rainsford, in route to South America, but his journey is hindered when he is startled by gunshots heard in the distance night and falls off his yacht and swims to the nearest island, Ship-Trap Island. He awoke the next afternoon to remember the gunshots and suggested there must be people living on this island. As he follows, the direction of the shots he heard from the night before Rainsford stumbles upon a large building in which he introduces the owner, a Cossack General, of his situation. The General informs Rainsford he has read his hunting books and graciously accommodates Rainsford. The two chat during dinner about hunting and Rainsford
In the beginning of the story the two characters are as equals both hunters. When General Zaroff reveals what the most dangerous game is. Rainsford is aghast at the absurdity of the statement General Zaroff had just posed, this is where the conflict started between the characters between the two characters. The Next day Rainsford’s role in the story changes he goes from hunter to hunted.
At the beginning of the two men's acquaintance, the General seemed like a normal man living on an island. After talking for a couple of minutes General Zaroff explained that he has hunted everything known to man, so now he has moved on to hunting men. This startled Rainsford, and he started to show signs of wanting to leave but the General gave him two options; hunt or be hunted. Rainsford chose to be hunted and lasted the time limit of three days of hunted by the General, and killed the General when he had his chance. At the beginning of the story, the flaw of Rainsford is he falling overboard and ending up swimming for his life.
This shows the reader that Rainsford knows what’s right from wrong, and how humans should be treated, rather than how Zaroff treats the men that cross his path. Rainsford’s opinion on hunting is evident in the beginning of the story when Whitney and Rainsford are talking and they say “‘ Great sport, hunting.’ ‘The best sport in the world.’ Agreed Rainsford. ”(p.1, Richard Connell) Rainsford loves hunting, and sees nothing wrong with it.
There are several conflicts in “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell; while person versus person is the most obvious, person versus self and person versus nature are also present. For example, the “jagged crags” upon which Rainsford lands scratch his hands until they are raw, and when Rainsford is trying to survive the hunt, nature once again acts as an obstacle. The muck is like “ a giant leech” and the insects “[bite] him savagely” through the dense vegetation. On the other hand, Rainsford faces an internal dilemma when he is talking to Zaroff about hunting humans for sport: while Rainsford is shocked by the proposition, he feels no revulsion, no disgust. Therefore, because Rainsford does not seem to have an internal aversion to Zaroff’s proposal, that causes a quandary - his lack of moral dilemma in this situation is a dilemma in itself.
In the story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, Sanger Rainsford is a big-game hunter who has proven himself to be more civilized than General Zaroff. Once Rainsford finds himself on Ship-Trap Island, he quickly realizes that he will be the one being hunted rather than being the hunter. Rainsford is more civilized because he refuses to kill people for sport, he treats other humans like people and not animal, and he demanded to leave because he didn’t want to be part of the hunt. First of all, Rainsford is more civilized because he refuses to kill people for sport. In comparison, General Zaroff kills people all the time for sport which makes him a murderer, and even tries to convince Rainsford to hunt with him.
Zaroff on the other hand cares for no one except for his overwhelming need to hunt. Rainsford is a skilled hunter having past experiences with where he has been and what he can do to survive the three terrifying nights. Zaroff otherwise has experience in hunting, but his knowledge stays in the lay of the land, he has lived there for a while by what he has said with context clues. Rainsford is sickened and hates Zaroff, because he believes Zaroff is insane for wanting to hunt humans, saying that it is ‘murder’. Zaroff respects Rainsford throughout the whole book saying how impressed Rainsford for how well he is able to survive in unknown