Discuss The Use Of Irony In Richard Cornell's The Hunter And The Prey

The hunter and the prey is an interesting dynamic, because one moment you can be the predator and think that you are on top of the world, and in the next moment you are the prey. Irony in the most dangerous game is a strong factor in the story, because at one moment you have the power, but then it is taken away and you are hunted like an animal. When Rainsford signed up for the hunting trip, he was not expecting that he himself was the one that was going to be hunted. In the beginning of the story, the sailors on the hunting expedition fear an island because of rumors, even though they are strong and are not afraid to kill any animal. Richard Cornell’s use of Irony in the story is used effectively because it shows that someone who was strong and fearless earlier is now helpless and fearful being the prey and that everyone thinks they are civilized and have good morals.

Everyone on the boat fears the island because there have been rumors saying that the people entering never come back out. While on the deck of the boat, Rainsford explains to one of the sailors that animals cannot feel pain or fear, while later he himself is hunted and is extremely fearful. When Rainsford is on the island he says to general Zaroff that he is a hunter not a killer, even though hunters kill animals, who he believes does not have emotion. The irony was effective because it set the stage for Rainsford because he never knew that one day he would be hunted like an animal and be so fearful. Rainsford believes that animals have no feelings, even though later in the story he is very fearful and knows how the prey