Richard Connell, and American writer is known for his most famous short story “The Most Dangerous Game” (also known as “The Hounds of Zaroff”). “The Most Dangerous Game” is a short-story about an avid hunter named Sanger Rainsford who falls off a Yacht while passing by a island dreaded by locals. He falls off and is forced to swim to the island as the Yacht rides away. When he reaches the island he falls asleep after exhaustion. In the morning he explores and finds a very nice house and meets a tall mute man named Ivan who almost shot Rainsford. Another man showed up, named Zaroff and introduced himself to Rainsford. Zaroff is a keen hunter and recognizes Rainsford immediately, saying he read his book about hunting. His house is very exquisite and he has everything that is essential to live - …show more content…
Zaroff says he is a very experienced hunter and has been doing it since he was very young child. He explains that eventually he started getting bored of hunting and wanted to do something different; he wanted to hunt animals that can reason. Rainsford then discovers that Zaroff in fact hunts humans that are lured and trapped on the island. Rainsford demands to leave but Zaroff forces him to be hunted or turned over to Ivan. He gives Rainsford three hours head start to hide, and Rainsford does so. He attempts to make several traps for Zaroff but fails and only hurts or kills something other than Zaroff. Rainsford, about to be surrounded by Zaroff's dogs, jumps into the ocean. Zaroff goes back to his House, mad that he had lost Ivan since he was killed by a trap, and Rainsford. When heads to his bed later on, he discovers Rainsford hiding behind his curtains, Zaroff is surprised and Rainsford ends up killing him. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell questions reason in animals, the large amount of violence Rainsford encounters, and the revenge he tries to get on General
Zaroff reveals that he intends to hunt Rainsford, since he finds hunting
Crazy /’krāzē/ to be mentally deranged, wild in an aggressive way. Richard Connell's short story “ The Most Dangerous Game “ deals with the hunter,General Zaroff who is passionate about hunting and takes it to a grotesque level. When introduced to General Zaroff he is described as “a tall man past his middle age,for his hair was vivid white: but his thick eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as black as night... the face of an aristocrat... his smile showed red lips and pointed teeth” (44).
In the story, zaroff hunts Rainsford throughout the island. Zaroff says that he has never lost in the hunt. he tracks Rainsford vigorously. Some might say that Zaroff isn't a real hunter because he does not give his prey a fair chance but this is not what Zaroff thinks. HE thinks that he gives his prey a good chance to win.
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.
When faced with life threatening situations, people have different reactions that can either save them, or let fear cause them to make fatal mistakes. In Ray Bradbury's science fiction short story, "A Sound of Thunder", the character Eckels goes on a safari in the past to hunt dinosaurs. Taking one look at the dinosaur, Eckels panics, steps off the path, kills a butterfly and causes a ripple in time that changes the future for the worst. However, a different response is shown in Richard Connell's science fiction short story, "The Most Dangerous Game". In the short story, the main character and hunter Sanger Rainsford falls off a boat and arrives on a mysterious island that is known to be dangerous to sailors.
Rainsford is initially shown to not show any empathy to the wild animals he hunts. Zaroff is no different, with him declaring, “I hunt the scum of the earth: sailors from tramp ships--lassars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels,” (9). Zaroff hunts humans who have the unfortunate luck to arrive on Ship-Trap Island. Zaroff gives no second thought about hunting humans because he finds them to be the perfect sport to hunt, and finds pleasure in hunting them. In the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, the protagonist, Sanger Rainsford, and the antagonist, General Zaroff, are similar characters.
Zaroff admits that he has read Rainsford 's book, and helps Rainsford understand that he carefully created the game on the island. "I 've read your book about hunting snow leopards in Tibet, you see," explained the man. "I am General Zaroff." page 221. Zaroff made Rainsford uncomfortable by seeming suspicious.
Most people when they hear “The Most Dangerous Game” they think of bull riding or other dangerous games that don’t involve death. “The Most Dangerous Game” is a suspenseful cliff hanging story that follows the days of a castaway on the island of a crazed hunter. Rainsford is a big game hunter who falls off a boat near the island of General Zaroff, a big Cossack general who is looking for an alternative to hunting dangerous animals but with a twist. Throughout “The Dangerous Game” Rainsford and General Zaroff both show examples of IRony and exert arrogance.
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
One major theme of Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game is that of inhumanity, put simply as the strong exploiting the feeble. The story provides examples of individuals that act outside of society ignoring the rules and regulations that oversee the general public in which they reside. The protagonist known as Rainsford exhibits a hardhearted attitude toward the animals he hunts as evident in the conversation he has with Whitney aboard a yacht. The conversation of the two reveals Rainsford’s feelings or rather lack of feelings about hunting big game. Similarly, the antagonist, General Zaroff exhibits the same characteristic of hardheartedness as Rainsford towards his prey which is human.
“I am strong, I hunt the scum of the earth”(17). He only kills them because he wants to hunt something that can reason, something that can change its mind when faced with a life or death situation. “But they are men,” said Rainsford hotly. “Precisely,” said the general”(17). Zaroff is an apex hunter, and he demands the ultimate prey.
However, it does not change for the better. In the middle of the story when he finds out Zaroff hunts fellow human beings, to Zaroff's surprise, Rainsford’s thought and reaction is utter shock and disbelief. “‘But you can’t mean-’ gasped Rainsford. ‘And why not?’”(10). Zaroff knowing Rainsford was a great hunter he hoped that Rainsford would accompany him on a hunt; however, Rainsford accuses him of being a cold-blooded killer.
“The Most Dangerous Game” is a short story written by Richard Connell that tells the story of a big game hunter named Sanger Rainsford who, while on a yacht trip, becomes stuck on an island owned by a man named General Zaroff. The story takes a dark turn when Rainsford discovers that Zaroff hunts humans for sport and he is the next target. Throughout the story, Rainsford faces adversity in the form of physical challenges, mental challenges, and moral dilemmas. These challenges ultimately shape his identity as a hunter and as a person. Rainsford faces physical challenges as he is hunted by Zaroff and his dogs.
“The Most Dangerous Game”, a short story by Richard Connell, is about Sanger Rainsford’s unfortunate visit to General Zaroff’s island while on a hunting trip. General Zaroff isn’t any normal hunter and he invites Rainsford to play a hunting game that is unlike any other hunting game. General Zaroff’s arrogance and experience in hunting and the hunting game, could cost Rainsford his life. The first trait General Zaroff displays is arrogance.
"The Most Dangerous Game" statement of The world is made up of two classes -- "the hunters and the huntees" is a great statement that makes sense. The Most Dangerous Game is about a man named Zaroff who lives on an island by himself. The people that come to the island get trained to get ready for the game. The game involves people going through the jungle, hiding from Zaroff as he hunts them. Both the hunters and the huntees have a different view on the conflict.