Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

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Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

In Richard Connell's short story, "The Most Dangerous Game';, the use of literary devices, found blended with other literary devices, gives the story an inner meaning. The blending of literary devices effectively expresses the intentions of Connell to present contrast between the antagonist and protagonist points of view. As a result, the reader can gain insight on the good and evil sides of the story to enhance the purpose of his interpretation. "The Most Dangerous Game'; by Richard Connell presents literary devices such as foreshadowing, setting, and irony which reveal the underlying meaning of the story.

Connell's use of foreshadowing creates an atmosphere of mystery and a hesitant feeling of not knowing what events will occur. For instance, Zaroff "has ceased [hunting]'; because all the animals "had become too easy'; to chase; but one animal has a certain characteristic of being "able to reason'; which rekindles his passion for the thrill of the hunt (68). The vague statement at which Zaroff makes at Rainsford obviously hints toward humans as being the animal of reason because referring to the statement Rainsford makes in the early stages of the story, he asserts that animals do not feel or think. Now that Rainsford conceives the idea that Zaroff hunts humans, it provides Rainsford with a frustrating mental reaction of fear and anger because Zaroff openly declares that he poaches humans for amusement and yet Rainsford feels the anxiety of dying in his sick game. Equally important, while Zaroff hunts strategically, "[his] brain against [Rainsford]'; (71), "it sent a shudder of cold horror'; in the flowing veins of Rainsford because of the fear that he will "lose [his] nerve'; (73). Immediately, when Rainsford enters the repulsive jungle, he knows that the strategy for staying alive becomes not only physically, but by remaining mentally strong and not losing his nerves. For this reason, by staying on objective and visualizing his goal of achieving victory over Zaroff; Rainsford will not have to worry about weakness from hunger because he will be full of hope and optimism for the rest of his life. Connell utilizes foreshadowing in a way that other authors do not compare because when he uses an event that contains foreshadowing, he does not state it candidly but blends foreshadowing into story like the ...

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...ting, and irony essential to the effect of the story, Connell utilizes his command of these literary devices to relate to the everyday life of the reader. Throughout the story, Zaroff exclaims that when he murders animals, it does not excite him which leads him to kill humans. The wrongful action which Zaroff commits demonstrates the way the world behaves today, specifically the hunting world. For this reason in the hunting world of today, people kill animals for either game or for enjoyment; but what perverse mind enjoys that slaughter of creatures? The violence of today exists all around where people call home or gather to socialize with other people. For example, when people leave their home to watch movies; people mostly watch violent or action movies for their exciting content. As soon as the movie ends, people come away from the theater with sadistic images which begins the desensitization from violence. The world today must recognize this event that happens to often to the population of the world today because when people view violent movies frequently and feel nothing, people become like Zaroff and kill animals or people because movies do not provide enough exhilaration.

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