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The Hunter In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

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There are two distinct classes in this world: the hunters and the huntees. In the short story The Most Dangerous Game written by Richard Connell, the reader is introduced to a big game hunter, Rainsford. One night, Rainsford falls off his yacht while heading to Rio for his next hunt. He swims to a nearby island that is owned by another big game hunter, General Zaroff. Rainsford soon realises the game General Zaroff hunts is very different. Rainsford must fight for his life for three nights, trying to escape General Zaroff who is trying to kill him. The author shows the readers how Rainsford undergoes a dynamic character change as he shifts from the hunter to the hunted and once again the hunter as the story ends.
In the beginning of the short story Rainsford, the hunter, firmly believes there are two different classes: the hunters and the huntees. The reader can infer that Rainsford is a hunter by only reading the first page of the short story. The author gives us evidence that Rainsford is a hunter by a conversation had with his hunting partner, Whitney of their up coming hunt.
“‘The best sport in the world,’ agreed Rainsford. ‘‘For the hunter, amended Whitney. ‘ Not for the Jaguar’ ‘Don’t talk rot, Whitney,’ said …show more content…

The readers are able to witness in the beginning of the short story Rainsford believing the animals have no understand. Shifting then as Rainsford becomes the hunted, having to change his mind set to what it feels like to be an animal. As the story comes to an end, the reader is able to notice Rainsfords shift for the last time as he must now kill General Zaroff. Throughout the short story the reader may witness the theme of Rainsford's dynamic character change as he continues to go back and forth between the two different classes: the hunters and the huntees in The Most Dangerous

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Rainsford was a hunter but he became a hunted. Rainsford is faced with the challenge in the middle of the story. Also, the importance of empathy is shown through the changes that occur in Rainsford in the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Moreover, it seems that Zaroff considers himself a god who can snuff out life as he pleases.

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In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell uses irony to show the theme of the hunter becoming the hunted . Sanger Rainsford is a big game hunter from New York City who believes that animals deserve no remorse when being hunted. When discussing whether it is right to hunt jaguars, Rainsford says, “The world is made up of two classes- the hunters and the huntees” (Connell 1). Rainsford shows little mercy for the lives of hunted animals and doesn’t care to think what it is like to be hunted. Later in the story, Rainsford meets General Zaroff and they are discussing their favorite game to hunt.

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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.

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Rainsford also exhibits courage by doing anything to survive. During Rainsford’s first meal with the general, Zaroff tells of his hunts, expressing the rush he gets from his kills. Rainsford is appalled, telling him it is murder, and would not take part in what Zaroff planned. Of course, he had limited options and ultimately was forced to participate as the newest quarry. However, when the third day of the hunt was nearing completion, Zaroff, Ivan, and his hounds were hot on Rainsford’s trail.

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This significant switch in the role of Rainsford in the chain gives him an opportunity to understand and experience the frightening life of a huntee. Connell incorporates the sentimental element in the story by situating the protagonist at a weaker position. Through Rainsford’s experience as a huntee, readers understand the helplessness and vulnerability of a huntee. On the other hand, Connell presents the theme of perseverance by depicting the direct characteristics of Rainsford. Due to his perseverance, Rainsford survives after falling from the yacht.

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The theme of the story is, walk a mile in somebody else’s shoes. Throughout the game, Rainsford has to walk in the shoes of the animals he hunted. He was forced to hide from the hunter, which was the General, just like the animals tried to hide from him when he was hunting them. In addition, Rainsford ran away from the General and had to take risks to escape just like when he hunted the animals. Aswell, At the end of the story, Rainsford says, “I am still a Beast at Bay.

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In Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” , Rainsford is the positive force in a classic good vs. evil showdown against a psychopathic man-hunter. For example, Rainsford non - evilness is displayed when he declines General Zaroff’s “ We will hunt - you and I,” (10). This is substantial evidence towards Rainsford morals and integrity as a human. Based on the short story, a good and decent person would not want to hunt someone, it is an act of cold blood.

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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

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Rainford exposes his selfishness and lack of empathy by saying, “‘Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes-the hunters and the huntees. Luckily you and I are hunters’”(2). His actions throughout the story show his cruelty too. Rainsfords profession is killing animals, and while he does

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