Pride In The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

Pride and Empathy Although pride can lead to beneficial outcomes, pride with the absence of empathy can lead to a devastating result. The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell shows that having too much pride and no empathy can get someone in some terrible trouble. The theme is proven by Rainsfords pride and unempathetic-ness, how the general had too much pride, and how the general only saw himself as the hunter, not the hunted. First, Rainsford had too much pride for his own good. “‘The best sport in the world,’ agreed Rainsford. ‘For the hunter,’ amended Whitney. ‘Not the jaguar.’ ‘Don't talk rot, Whitney,’ said Rainsford. ‘You’re a big game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how the jaguar feels?’(60).” Rainsford never tried to put himself in someone else's shoes, even when someone like Whitney tried to tell him and make him see empathy. Later on in the story, the General gives Rainsford and chance to hide, then sets out to hunt him. Only after being hunted does Rainsford understand what Whitney was talking about when he said, “‘Not the jaguar’(60).”

“A man who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing there. ‘Rainsford!’ Screamed the General. ‘How in gods name did you get in here?’(80).” The General left that day knowing he hadn't caught Rainsford after he jumped out into the sea. The General believed he would not come back but until he found Rainsford in room, did he start to think anything bad would come to him. Up until this point in the story the general is enjoying hunting Rainsford, and Rainsford has the exact opposite feeling about this situation. Rainsford says himself “I am still a beast at bay”(80). The General challenged Rainsford, “‘One of us will furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed. On Guard, Rainsford…’(80).” The General never thought he would lose at his own game. That was until he was fed to his own