ipl-logo

The Hunt In The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

644 Words3 Pages

Animals sense a feeling of terror and panic when being hunted, yet the hunter never has a clue. Richard Connell changes the relationship of the hunter-huntee in “The Most dangerous Game”. The protagonist in the story Rainsford, a great game hunter, finds himself trapped in a Caribbean island and being hunted by another human. Connell uses several literary devices such as foreshadowing, external conflict and suspense to create an impression of fear, competition and violence.
Connell utilizes dialogues between Rainsford and Whitney to foreshadow upcoming crises in the story. As Rainsford and Whitney talk on the boat, Rainsford says, “The world is made up of two classes-the hunters and the huntees. Luckily you and I are big-game hunters” (Connell …show more content…

When Rainsford arrives on the island, Zaroff tells him stories about previous hunts and says, “I have not lost [the game]” and tells Rainsford, “we will hunt-you and I” (Connell 404-473). Zaroff’s offer was too abrupt for Rainsford to take into consideration. On the other hand, Rainsford liked the idea of hunting, but did not know the way Zaroff hunted. Zaroff explains the “hunting” and says, “You’ll find this game worth playing, your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and stamina against mine” (Connell 487-488). Rainsford realizes Zaroff’s definition of hunting is to fight against each other, rather than to hunt animals. Several thoughts come up on Rainsfords mind: he is confused and does have a clue how to get out of this situation. Rainsford struggles to find a resolution and has no choice but to fight Zaroff man to man. The unseen tension between Rainsford and Zaroff adds suspense to the mystery …show more content…

On the first night, Rainsford, climbs up “a big tree with a thick trunk and outspread branches [that were nearby], taking care to leave no the slightest mark” (Connell 16). Every small movement of Rainsford shows his anxiety and fear of being haunted by General Zaroff. Unfortunately, Zaroff finds Rainsford and leaves after giving an arrogant smirk. Zaroff’s act of leisure sends a shudder of horror down Rainsfords spine. After realizing “how an animal at bay feels” (Connell 668), Rainsford, “leap[s] into the sea” (Connell 681) to arrive at the mansion to end the useless battle with a surprise attack. Even after risking his life in the sea, Rainsfords hatred toward Zaroff allows him to continue his actions. Additionally, Rainsford wanted to seek revenge on Zaroff for his cruelty towards humans. Rainsfords determination to survive, granted him as a successful hunter who understood the meaning of

Show More
Related
155 Words | 1 Pages

In the text read in class, “The Most Dangerous Game”, Rainsford displayed many instances where he persevered. Not only does General Zaroff respect Rainsford as a hunter, but his intentions are to now make this hunter his prey. The reader does not expect Rainsford to make it out alive but he now conquers the game General Zaroff has worked so hard on to master, hunting humans. Leading up to Rainsford killing General Zaroff, Rainsford showed his many different acquired hunting skills when fighting on the island. He made several different traps in attempt to kill Zaroff that ended in failure, but when Rainsford jumped into the ocean and swam to the house of General Zaroff, he showed signs of perseverance.

Read More
918 Words | 4 Pages

This helps with the thrill of the hunt as well because Zaroff has read some of the books Rainsford has written, which helps him know about Rainsford and his hunting abilities.. Rainsford being a famous hunter makes Zaroff want to compete against him to confirm he is as good of a hunter as he discloses to be. Not only do the characters show some comparability, but the plot events do as well. Specifically, Rainsford ends up in the sea which results in him ending up on the island. This is how the entire setting and main points take off.

Read More
1458 Words | 6 Pages

He uses several different methods to cheat his way into the game he is playing with Rainsford; dogs, Ivan, a gun, and the isolated island itself. Connell sets up the dilemma from whether hunting is a brutal activity or an amusing sport. Deciding on one or the other depends a lot on how the reader feels about animals. Rainsford’s attitude suggests his willingness to commit violence without considering any of the moral implications. The reader quickly forgets about that position once they meet General Zaroff.

Read More
239 Words | 1 Pages

Sanger Rainsford made an important impact on the story ‘The Most Dangerous Game’ by Richard Connell through his intuition and how it added to the intensity of the story. In fact, Rainsford already had a general impact as the main character yet certain characteristics he owned doubled that impact. Naturally, Rainsford’s intuition and nearly instinctive realism made the story more engrossing for the readers by showing how he knew his physical limits while also knowing how to push his intellectual limits without exhausting himself. Furthermore, Rainsford had usually created minor controversy with his opinions which may have kept some readers interested, “The world is made up of two classes -- the hunters and the huntees”. Besides seeming to be

Read More
783 Words | 4 Pages

General Zaroff pretends to be a civilized person just living on a deserted island, but in reality, he is a cold-blooded murder. General Zaroff tricks Rainsford into a false sense of security only to throw him into the jungle and force him to participate in his disgusting game of hunting humans for amusement. Rainsford has to stay alive for three days in order to live, and he has to fight for his life during the hunt. In the end Rainsford is able to win, and by doing so gains knowledge that changes him. Rainsford is a dynamic character because he changes from being apathetic towards hunting animals, to empathetic towards hunting animals.

Read More
624 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
201 Words | 1 Pages

In Rainsford’s conflict with the general he uses his hunting skills to survive Zaroff’s twisted “game”. At the beginning of the story Rainsford has a respect for Zaroff but loses that respect when he finds out what it is that he hunts . Still General Zaroff continues to invite Rainsford to hunt with him, but when he says no and that he doesn 't condone murder Zaroff turns him into his quarry. Before Rainsford got to the

Read More
471 Words | 2 Pages

The Similarities The best part about these two story are that they were similar and many different ways. This early conversation between Whitney and Rainsford foreshadows the events to come. Rainsford will soon experience the position of the jaguar as he is hunted by Zaroff on Ship-Trap island. The brief exchange highlights Rainsford 's outlook on the sport of hunting. He expresses a lack of empathy for the plight of the hunted.

Read More
766 Words | 4 Pages

Rainsford picked the hunt because he atleast has chances of surviving it other then being torture to death. Now it is a battle of two good hunters against each other and to see who came out alive. Rainsford learned that even the huntie feels fear when they are being hunted and that he was wrong in the beginning of the story because he has felt the fear of being hunted. Even though Rainsford survived and beat Zaroff this really did change him and open his eyes about the world and the fear that is felt by

Read More
883 Words | 4 Pages

At first, it just starts out by Rainford falling off the boat and making it to this island, which leads to him to meeting Zaroff and them engaging in friendly conversation. The first point where you see Zaroff’s arrogance to leak through is when Zaroff starts describing how no animal really has a chance against him anymore and that hunting has been getting boring to him. General Zaroff specifically says, “Hunting was beginning to bore me! And hunting, remember, had been my life.” He goes on to say, “Hunting had ceased to be what you call ‘a sporting proposition.’

Read More
825 Words | 4 Pages

He soon finds shelter and meets a Russian hunter named General Zaroff. Zaroff arrogantly explains to Rainsford on how hunting has bored him, as he has never lost a fight against an animal. He then explains he hunts humans, as they can reason. Zaroff challenges Rainsford to a hunting battle, and when he loses, he realizes that he’s not the best hunter. The first point of pride was when Zaroff is boasting about how he’s never lost a fight to an animal before.

Read More
840 Words | 4 Pages

When placed in this situation, Rainsford has transformed from being the hunter to becoming the huntee, and is now in the position of all the animals he has carelessly killed before. Towards the end of the story, while Rainsford is being hunted by Zaroff and his pack of dogs, the narrator describes how Rainsford feels by saying that: “Rainsford now knew how an animal at bay feels” (22). The sensation of extreme fear and worry had finally gotten to him, and he can relate to how the animals he hunt may

Read More
440 Words | 2 Pages

Also, General Zaroff is an extreme hunter and doesn’t find pleasure in hunting regular animals. Zaroff says the most dangerous game is humans because they have the ability to reason. Rainsford is going to be hunted and is given a certain amount of time to survive. Moreover, while Rainsford is being hunted Zaroff

Read More
682 Words | 3 Pages

When Rainsford and Zaroff begin the hunt, Rainsford remembers he “had dug himself in France when a second’s delay meant death. That had been a placid pastime compared to his digging now” ( Connell, 182). Rainsford is comparing death to being hunted, which implies that he really is scared and afraid of Zaroff and the game. The comparison he makes to World War II shows how scared he is and at the last stage of snapping. On the last day Zaroff brings his hounds to help him with the hunt, once Rainsford hears the voices of the hounds he “[knows] how an animal at bay feels” (Connell,183).

Read More
824 Words | 4 Pages

Fear is not real. It is the product of thoughts you create. Danger is very real, but fear is a choice. In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” the main character Rainsford is being hunted which creates fear in him. He is scared of dying but overcame his fear by facing the danger of the hunting game.

Read More

More about The Hunt In The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

Related Topics

Open Document