Theory of Relationship:
The relationship between Rainsford and General Zaroff is that of a friend becoming an enemy.
Paragraph 1:
“He was finding the general a most thoughtful and affable host, a true cosmopolite” (7 Connell).
In this passage from “The Most Dangerous Game” Rainsford’s first impression is that general Zaroff is nice and polite. Rainsford mentions how he was a “thoughtful and affable host”. In other words they are getting along and having a good time together while the general is being especially being nice and hospitable. Since Rainsford is enjoying the general so much I think that they are becoming friends and bonding over their shared interest in hunting. The use of friendly banter and positive thoughts towards the general shows that Rainsford is liking the general more and more. Rainsford also describes him as “A true cosmopolite”. This phrase uses descriptive adjectives and nouns to describe Zaroff in Rainsfords thoughts. In this passage Rainsford is describing the general as a cosmopolitan.
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Rainsford fears him and fears for his safety “Put distance between himself and General Zaroff.” He wants to as far away from Zaroff because he hates him and if he is caught he will be killed. Connell is telling the reader he is kicking into survival gear and getting the heck away from the danger. My claim is proven furthermore when Rainsford is thinking “Something like panic” which shows his instinct. In this passage Rainsford is panicking because his once friend is now trying to kill him. He is afraid of Zaroff and death so he is running in the woods distressed, and panicking. Connell’s use of words shows Rainsford’s panic in the first minutes of the game. Though the use of Rainsford’s thought and opinions, Richard Connell establishes a friendship that turns out to be with an
General Zaroff’s attractive and handsome presence hides his evilness from Rainsford as he enjoys the general’s assistance and attention. The general makes
In the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford fits the category of Zaroff’s ideal animal to hunt, because Rainsford displays the attribute to reason by being able to make many life saving decisions throughout the story. Rainsford has the ability to reason from the very beginning of the story, because he was able to remain calm to make a life saving decision in an unnerving situation, which proves that he fits the quarry for Zaroff to hunt. As he was in the water, he recalls the gunshots he heard while he was still on the yacht, “they had come from the right, and doggedly he swam in that direction, swimming with slow, deliberate strokes, conserving his strength” (Connell 14). Whereas most people would have panicked in the situation
Rainsford was a hunter but he became a hunted. Rainsford is faced with the challenge in the middle of the story. Also, the importance of empathy is shown through the changes that occur in Rainsford in the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Moreover, it seems that Zaroff considers himself a god who can snuff out life as he pleases.
Character Essay “I’ll agree to do nothing of the kind,” is Rainsford’s response when he is asked not to speak of the island where a man goes for his favorite hobby; murder (Connell 37). Rainsford is just a poor sailor who swam onto Ship Trap Island to escape the frigid waters that he accidentally fell into. He meets General Zaroff and learns about his personality and actions. Shortly after that, Rainsford soon realizes he needs to get off of the island as soon as he can.
His first thought is to get as far away as he can, ‘His first idea was to put as distance between himself and General Zaroff.’ But as he calms down and starts thinking rationally, he realizes he needs to try to survive and outsmart Zaroff and play along with his game. As the days go by he starts losing his morals and tries to kill Zaroff, first by dropping a log on him, ‘The dead tree, delicately adjusted to rest on the cut living one crashed down and struck the general.’ Rainsford has started losing his morals and getting more in touch with his beast.
In the short story The Most Dangerous Game, the author Richard Connell shows that Rainsford needs control of his emotions, patience , and expert hunting and decision making skills in order to defeat Zaroff. Rainsford needs to gain control of his emotions to outthink Zaroff, who symbolizes Rainsfords "steep hill". When he finds that he is going to be hunted his natural instinct is to run and panic, but then he stops to look around and get a grip on the task at hand. Then at a critical moment when Zaroff finds him in a tree, Rainsford panics again because he realizes Zaroff is on his trail and is toying with him. Once again, he gains control of his emotions and formulates a plan.
In “The Most Dangerous Game” Connell uses indirect characterization to show that Rainsford is selfish,humane,and highly skilled. The reader gets a better physical description of General Zaroff. There is not a physical description of Rainsford. General Zaroff Is more fully characterized,Richard Connell,planned for Rainsford to be the dynamic character. Zaroff is physically portrayed more than Rainford and his belonging are better depicted.
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
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.
Throughout this journal, Zaroff can be characterized as confident and wacky. First, he can be considered as a confident man. In addition, the introduction of himself to Rainsford can be a detail by his speaking tone. Also, how he collaborates with Rainsford such as shake hands is a detail too. For example, “Another man was coming down the broad marble steps, an erect, slender man in evening clothes.
This is shown when Rainsford got into Zaroff's room. Rainsford states “I’m still a beast at bay.” Then General Zaroff says “‘ I see... Splendid! One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds.
This adds suspense to the story, as the reader match the feeling of being hunted by having Rainsford be stressed out. Likewise, the author uses the character's thoughts in many more ways to make the reader feel suspense and unease. In this part of the story, he encountered the General while he was hiding in a bush. Here the author writes, “Rainsford’s second thought was even more terrible. It sent a shudder of cold horror through his whole being.
Not only was rainsford in a conflict with General Zaroff he is in conflict with himself as he is finding his way to Ship Trap Island. “‘I must keep my nerve, I must keep my nerve,’ he said through tight teeth” (12). Rainsford also had a conflict with himself on the island when he was deciding what to do to get away from Zaroff. Rainsford was able to overcome the internal conflict when the dogs were chasing him and he needed to make the decision to jump into the water, fight the dogs, or climb a tree and hide. Man versus himself is very important to Connell’s story.
Fear is not real. It is the product of thoughts you create. Danger is very real, but fear is a choice. In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” the main character Rainsford is being hunted which creates fear in him. He is scared of dying but overcame his fear by facing the danger of the hunting game.
but it is General Zaroff that surpasses him. The part of the story when Rainsford asks if Ivan is Russian.... The reader now knows General Zaroff is not a mere hunter but he is out to