It is natural for humans to disassociate themselves from their worst trait, but imagine what humanity would resemble if each person embraces their inner animal. In his short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell utilizes characterization to explore his ideas about the true nature of humanity. By employing his characterization, Richard Connell can establish his idea that at its core, humanity is still animalistic. As the first day of “the most dangerous game” closes, Connell utilizes characterization to demonstrate that humankind is animalistic. General Zaroff visits Rainsford who is on top of the grandest tree he could find after spending the day attempting to disguise his tracks. Rainsford is stripped of his humanity and is reduced …show more content…
Assuming Rainsford committed suicide, General Zaroff returns to his chateau only to find Rainsford hiding in his curtains. Rainsford who is not satiated with the victory told Zaroff that he was a “beast” who was still at “bay.” (16) By illustrating Rainsford as a crude hunted animal who is pushed to the edge, and who only may kill, Connell implies that Rainsford and General Zaroff will fight to the death. By hinting that an imminent death is forthcoming, it is suggested that when humanity runs out of options, it transforms into a baying beast. By implying that humankind can become baying beasts when they are out of options, Connell can prove that at its core, humanity is animalistic. As the story progresses, the quotes evolve to characterize Rainsford as being progressively animalistic throughout “the most dangerous game.” In the beginning, Rainsford begins to get animalistic thoughts such as wanting to tackle Zaroff “like a panther,” but as the story comes to a close, Rainsford is comfortable in calling himself a “beast.” This evolution teaches humanity that although they try to cover their animalistic traits when pushed, they transform into
Rainsford is known for his extravagant hunting skills, even General Zaroff speaks of Rainsford as is if he has inspired him to become a hunter. Rainsford talks about hunting with passion, while he is speaking to Whitney he tells her it’s “the best sport in the world” (19). Rainsford has no guilt when he kills animals, he even tells Whitney that it’s nonsense when she mention the jaguars have feeling. But Rainsford shows immediate disgust when Zaroff brings up his hunting of humans, “hunting, great heavens, what you speak of is murder” (26). This only the first of many times that he reacts with great displeasure.
After falling off his ship and forced to swim to a mysterious island, Rainsford is faced with a challenge. General Zaroff traps him in a “game” that requires Rainsford to use his skills to survive. He is hunted for three days; where he was chased, tracked down, and shot at. General Zaroff led the hunt to try to kill Rainsford. General was equipped with more firepower and help from his henchman and dogs. But even with his much greater opponent, he was able to survive. Rainsford used his many skills to defeat and kill his enemy. He used quick wit to make traps that would slow Zaroff and kill his dogs and henchman. Then he used his intelligence to escape Zaroff by swimming away, but sneaking back into his own mansion.
If one were to put another character in Rainsford’s position such as Whitney, it is likely that the story would not have ended the way it did. A main reason as to why Rainsford is the dynamic character he is, and can survive such a harsh game, is because he is very self-assured. While passing Ship-Trap Island, all the sailors, aside from Rainsford, are a little anxious because of rumors heard about the island. Rainsford believes that, “one superstitious sailor can taint the whole ships company with his fear,” (page 56). During a firm discussion with Whitney about hunting, Rainsford boldly argues how jaguars are just here to be hunted. Ironically, by the end of the story he thinks just the opposite. The first time he encounters General Zaroff, Rainsford earns the General’s trust instantly because he shows his independence and confidence to him. As he hears about the game, Rainsford does not express obvious fear toward General Zaroff. Being self-assured helps Rainsford to be the strong hunter he is.
In the beginning of the story, Rainsford has a conversation with his friend, Whitney, about hunting animals. Rainford does not care about the animals that he hunts. He believes hunting is only a sport to kill innocent creatures. “‘Who cares how a jaguar feels?’” (1) Showing the reader exactly what he thinks of hunting. Rainsford does not understand that the animals he hunts are like the people that Zaroff hunts. They are innocent, and he is murdering them when he hunts them. Rainsford thinks that Zaroff is insane for murdering people, but Rainsford is also a murderer. When Zaroff hunts Rainsford, the protagonist realizes the terror and pain the jaguars must have felt when he hunted them. Now the roles are reversed, and Rainsford is the one being hunted. “The Cossack was the cat; he was the mouse. The general was saving him for another day’s sport! Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror.” (17) Rainsford has changed his feelings about hunting animals now, and he has become a better person. He now takes into account how his prey feels. His interactions with people will also be different, because instead of being extremely overconfident, he realizes that he is not perfectly adept at hunting, and everyone has feelings that matter. In conclusion, Rainsford is now more humble and less overconfident than he was when he began his
Rainsford headed off and had spent two hours making his way across a bush all the while repeating the phrase, “I must keep my nerve” (Connell 11). Rainsford tried to keep calm in a terrifying situation because he wanted to live. He was being motivated by the idea of living so he kept persevering. Rainsford had jumped into the sea to get away from the General and it had worked because later that night Rainsford snuck into the General's room and challenged him. Rainsford ultimately won the game and won the privilege of sleeping Zaroff's excellent bed, because we can infer that Rainsford killed him (Connell 15). Rainsford took a chance and jumped into the sea because he knew he wasn’t going to give up without a fight. When Rainsford showed up in his room he knew the general would not let him leave so he challenged him in order for him to stay alive, again taking a chance in order to live. Throughout the story Rainsford had changed, leading up to this moment when he won the game, stayed alive, and killed the general. In the beginning Rainsford was motivated by the great sport of hunting, but then near the end Rainford's only motivation was to stay
In “The Most Dangerous Game” the author creates two strikingly similar characters that blur the line of ethics. Rainsford, the protagonist, meets his adversary and leader of an exotic tribe, Zaroff, after falling off of a yacht and swimming to the nearest island. The short story then explores the events that transpires between the strangers – focusing on Zaroff's bloodthirsty hunt against Rainsford. Yet even with the two men on opposite sides of a loaded gun, they both share many common interests and views pertaining to their similar backgrounds, hunting methods, and desired end result.
“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
We can see that Rainsford was intrigued with the general until the point when he realized that the general was hunting humans.”But no animal can reason” here Rainsford still does know but then when he says this “but you can 't mean” he then starts to piece it together and begins to realize that he was wrong. He was killing animals recklessly but when it came to humans he stopped immediately.
The story The Most Dangerous Game says, “his pipe;striking a rope, was knocked from his mouth. He lunged for it...he realized he reached too far.” When he dropped his pipe he tried to grab for it but reached to far and ended up falling into the sea. The next conflict Rainsford faced was either to play the game with Zaroff or go with Ivan. While reading this story Zaroff says “you'll find this game worth playing.” Rainsford didn’t think he would have to play the game but Zaroff said he either has to play or go with Ivan and be killed. The last conflict Rainsford faced was hiding from Zaroff. The story said, “the job was finished and he threw himself down behind a log 100 feet away.” Rainsford has to be smart when he is hiding, so he built a trap for Zaroff to be stuck under. Finally, during the story Rainsford overcame many
In The Most Dangerous Game the characters in the story were Sanger Rainsford and General Zaroff. Now in the story Sanger Rainsford is the victim, and General Zaroff is the predator. Sanger Rainsford was a hunter, he was fearless, brave, strong, and smart. He claim’s that he is superior to the animals that he kills. But when he is being hunted himself, his point of v...
Rainsford overcomes many obstacles, and in return he receives that special feeling of satisfaction in his body. To start, he overcomes the thought of him being weak. Furthermore, he conquers learning the value of even an animal’s life. Not to mention, he defeats becoming the hunted, when he is the hunter. In the short story Sanger Rainsford outwits General Zaroff in the battle of “The Most Dangerous
If animals were humans, then General Zaroff would almost be as bad as Adolf Hitler. General Zaroff, a character in Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game,” should be considered a negative character because of the way the author portrays him though indirect characterization, such as what he does, what he says, how other characters react to him, and what he looks like. Although there is plenty of indirect characterization, there is little to none direct characterization.
The theme of Richard Connell’s short story “The Most Dangerous Game” that I found significant and thought-provoking was perseverance; determined, persistent, and stick to doing something, despite the difficulty or delay in accomplishing. Most important, throughout the story, the lead character Sanger Rainsford is a survivor. I consider an admiring and motivating trait in Rainsford; he does not quit or leave himself to being defeated during the challenges he confronts.
In the story The Most Dangerous Game a character named General Zaroff has a passion for hunting. He has been hunting since he was born. He has hunted every animal known to man, but, then he gets tried of hunting the same animal over and over. So he discovers a new animal human flesh. General Zaroff is person of bad character because he is cruel, cowardly, and untrustworthy.
“The Most Dangerous Game” offers a clever play on words, with “game” carrying two different meanings. The first being the animals and humans hunted, and the second being the competition aspect between Zaroff and Rainsford. The title advocates hunting other people is the most dangerous game, and people themselves are the most dangerous prey to hunt.