Selfishness In The Most Dangerous Game, And Marionettes Inc.

Long before modern times, humans act selfishly, putting their short-term gain before their long-term interests. In “A Sound of Thunder” (Bradbury), “The Most Dangerous Game” (Connell), and “Marionettes Inc.” (Bradbury), the characters plot to maximize their pleasure in self-centered ways. These stories illustrate the concept that being selfish is self-defeating and often harms others in the process because the characters are narcissistic and then harm themselves and others.
First, Eckles from “A Sound of Thunder '' seeks thrill in harmful ways. Eckles wants to hunt a dinosaur but ignores warnings about stepping off of the path and even threats of getting shot as a consequence. Travis explains how killing one animal can have a large impact,

Zaroff introduces Rainsford to the most exhilarating sport of hunting humans by saying, “It supplies me with the most exciting [hunt] in the world… Every day I hunt, and I never grow bored. . .” (Connell 7). Zaroff’s actions are selfish because he only cares for his thrill and never cares how that impacts his victims. To Zaroff, Rainsford is the ultimate prey. But Zaroff gets cocky while hunting Rainsford when he “[v]ery deliberately [blows] a smoke ring into the air…” (Connell 12). Zaroff wants the hunt to continue because the excitement of torturing Rainsford is filling him with joy. Later in the story, Rainsford wins and Zaroff is killed. In the end, Zaroff wants to hunt humans, and Rainsford will supply the perfect thrill for him, but he gets cocky and Rainsford kills him, illustrating how the benefits one finds from selfishness can be quickly

Braling owns a Marionette version of himself to spend time with his wife when he wants to go out. Braling does this so often, Braling Two says, “Your wife is rather nice…I’ve grown rather fond of her” (Bradbury 2). Braling Two later shoves Braling into a box, but if Braling was not so selfish, his plan would have never backfired. Smith is intrigued by Bralings Marionette and thinks about getting one for himself. After thinking about the Marionettes, Smith feels guilty and tries to talk to his wife, but “he bent forward and yet forward again until his fevered ear was resting firmly and irrevocably upon the round pink bosom… Tick-tick-tick-tick…” (Bradbury 3). Smith’s wife got her own Marionette and Smith is deeply hurt, showing how self-centered acts psychologically impact others. So, Braling and Smith selfishly lie to their wives, but they find the tables turn against them as they are betrayed, emphasizing the physical and emotional consequences of being