Rainsford In Ayn Rand's The Most Dangerous Game

Being hunted is like day’s hours, your life only last for a short amount of time. A hunter by the name Rainsford fell overboard his yacht and was stranded on a island.Rainsford met this savage man named General Zaroff, who hunted unexpected game that Rainsford wasn’t ready for. Rainsford will not hunt again because after being hunted and chased around in the woods by a savage-like man, he knows the feeling and the terror that the animal that’s being hunted feels.

Rainsford feels sympathy for the animals, just as he was being hunted by a human. Rainsford is frustrated with General Zaroff games. Being hunted like an animal creates conflict and Rainsford “can’t believe that [Zaroff] [is] serious... This is grisly joke(27). In other words, he

Rainsford is on his own in the woods with General Zaroff. General Zaroff character trait of challenging, motivates Zaroff to tell Rainsford, “you’ll find this game worth playing,” the general said enthusiastically. “[Rainsford] brain against [Zaroff]. [Rainsford] woodcraft against [Zaroff], [Rainsford] strength and stamina against [Zaroff]”(30). Rainsford now knows that he’s in this game with General Zaroff and that he’s being put to the test of hunting. Rainsford is seconds away from being caught. General Zaroff tracks the tree and “Rainsford froze there, every muscle tensed for a spring. But the sharp eyes of the hunter stopped before they reached the limb where Rainsford lay”(33). Having to hide and not be caught just like animals have to do when they're being hunted, probably makes him tired of using energy hiding and running away. Rainsford is being chased and has thoughts about the different animals. “He ran for his life. The hounds raised their voices as they hit the fresh scent. Rainsford knew now how an animal at bay feels”(36). The hounds were chasing Rainsford, just as the animals were being chased by hunter and now that Rainsford lives the fear. Rainsford is not only being chased but tracked down.General Zaroff will “give [Rainsford] a trail to follow,” muttered Rainsford, and he struck off from the rude path he had been following into the trackless wilderness”(32). Rainsford is put on a trail just like an animal is hunted like their in a maze. He’s being tracked down by his scent and nowhere to escape because of that scent. Rainsford is put on a trail just like an animal is hunted like their in a maze. He’s being tracked down by his scent and nowhere to escape because of that