Most Dangerous Game Setting

In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game, the setting gives the story depth. Having the story being set on an island supplies the plot with multiple conflicts that Rainsford must face. It also makes the story suspenseful. The island symbolizes the consequences of isolating a man.

In the story, Rainsford experiences many conflicts with in the jungle on the island. The General says "So I bought this island built this house, and here I do my hunting. The island is perfect for my purposes--there are jungles with a maze of traits in them, hills, swamps--" This makes it harder for Zaroff's prey to survive on the island. It also adds difficulty to the hunt which Zaroff likes the challenge. Later in the story he also runs into quicksand

When Rainsford is finding out what Zaroff does on the Island, Connell drags out the moment creating a scene of suspense. He also uses the setting of an island to make the story more suspenseful to add a sense of danger. When Whitney and Rainsford are coming closer to the island Whitney says, "We were drawing near the island then. What I felt was a--a mental chill; a sort of sudden dread." (Page 2) This foreshadowing shows the darker and more mysterious side of the island. The island makes Zarroff hunting him, unescapable. This adds suspense because Zaroff could be right behind him and Rainsford would have no idea. When Rainsford is hiding in a tree, General Zaroff approaches the tree. "He made his way along with his eyes fixed in utmost concentration on the ground before him. He paused, almost beneath the tree, dropped to his knees and studied the ground." (Page 11) "Rainsford held his breath. The general's eyes had left the ground and were traveling inch by inch up the tree. Rainsford froze there, every muscle tensed for a spring." This shows the thrilling part that the island provides to the story. Rainsford knew he could do one of two things. He could stay where he was and wait. That was suicide. He could flee. That was postponing the inevitable. For a moment he stood there, thinking." (Page 13) This shows that the island supplies the story with tension and suspense because the hunt is

The island symbolizes a place where normal laws and morals are not governed. And a dictator (Zaroff)can come and control the island and use people for what he wants. Zaroff says "Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong anf if need be, be taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure, I am strong." He believes he is above others. e believes that this is what he should be doing and that he is allowed to do this. On the island, the only laws enforced are the ones he enforces. He believes the life of a man is inconsequential. The island symbolizes the consequences of isolating a man. Since he is rich he has power. This lets him do what he wants and create a place like Trap-Ship