Red As A Motif In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

An image, sound, action or other figure with symbolic significance that contributes to the development of a theme in a literary work is referred to as a motif. These tools can be used to advance and deepen themes while connecting to reader’s personal experience and shaping their future perception of the figure used. While in “The Most Dangerous Game” the motif of red represents a single theme “Invierno” uses the motif of winter to represent several and “Paali” uses more than one motif to develop a wide variety of emotional and educational themes.
In Richard Connell’s short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” the motif represents a single theme. The color red is spread through the story to emphasize not only the blood, but also the palpable presence

This can represent the island being surrounded by the blood of the people who have died there like a picture frame or can be seen as Rainsford metaphorically being marked for future violence by the water. One of the first things Rainsford encounters once he washes up on the island is the jungle, and in the underbrush he saw that “one patch of weeds was stained crimson,” (The Most Dangerous Game, 3). This provided a first impression of the carnage on the island. As the story progresses and Rainsford reaches the house on the island the redness becomes more closely associated with his cosmopolitan host, General Zaroff’s bloodlust. It is used to describe General Zaroff himself by saying “his smile showed red lips and pointed teeth,” (The Most Dangerous Game, 4) and

The first of these is stars, which frequently embody the emotions of Paali’s parents as they fight for him. As Manoharlal and his wife, Kaushalya, are journeying across the partition with the other refugees on lorries after they have lost Paali every one of their feelings is reflected in the stars. When they feel unsure about whether to stay or go “the shadows descended from the skies and the occasional star began to glitter beneath the unknowable heavens,” (Paali, 66) perfectly symbolizing their confusion at what to do now. As they approach the border the sky is described as “studded with innumerable stars,” and “looked unfathomable and mysterious,” (Paali, 67). This represents many feelings, how mysterious they must think their new home is, how lost they feel, and how small under this myriad of stars. Once they cross the border the refugees are in darkness and are unable to consider what is going to happen next. At this point the sky is described as a “terrifying canopy of countless twinkling stars,” (Paali, 67). When it comes to the other family stars seem to represent the more positive parts of their life. When looking up at the countless stars in the sky Shakur thinks of how it reminds him of the deep blue chunari Zainab was wearing after they were married that was “covered with sparkling silver sequins,” (Paali, 68). Once Shakur takes Paali