The Most Dangerous Game: General Zaroff As A Sadist

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary a Sadist is, “Someone who has delight in cruelty.” The antagonist, General Zaroff from Richard Connell’s short story, Most Dangerous Game is a sadist. The Most Dangerous Game is a story about a man who lives on “Ship-Trap Island”, an uninhabited island amid the ocean. He waits for people to wash ashore and harbors them until he thinks they’re ready to go “hunting”. To General Zaroff hunting is trying to kill a human in a 3-day span. Throughout this story General Zaroff shows components of being a sadist; he does not have a conscience, he is patient, and he is malevolent.

General Zaroff does not have a conscience. In lines 404-408 it states “The smile on the general's face widened. "To date I have not lost," he said. Then he added, hastily: "I don't wish you to think me a braggart, Mr. Rainsford. Many of them afford only the most elementary sort of problem. Occasionally I strike a tartar. One almost did win. I eventually had to use the dogs." (Connell) In this statement it proves how General Zaroff has no conscience. He doesn’t care how his prey dies as long as they die. He ruthlessly kills them whether it’s him slaughtering them or his dogs. Another example of Zaroff having no conscience is when he was talking to Rainsford, "A new animal? You're joking." "Not at all," said the general. "I never

In the beginning of the story Zaroff said to Rainsford, "And now, . . . I want to show you my new collection of heads. Will you come with me to the library?" (Connell) This sentence shows how Zaroff is proud of his kills. When he says “his collection of heads”, he is referring to human heads. Another occasion of Zaroff being malevolent is early on the story. “Occasionally I strike a tartar. One almost did win. I eventually had to use the dogs." This explains he is ruthless and wants them dead at all costs, whether it’s them being ripped to shreds by the jaws of the dogs or shot in the head by