Why does love cause so much death? Is love and loss really that much alike? It is loss because of love. “What’s the point if you hate, die and kill for Love. What’s the point with a love that makes you hate and kill for” (Gonzalez). Murder and darkness in “The Most Dangerous Game” and “Porphyria 's Lover” are found in the strangest details that are stated by the authors. The short story, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, is the tale of a man named Rainsford who is shipwrecked on a deserted and dreaded island, therefore he finds a psychotic man who kills people for a game. The man believes that he is still a civilized person because of the fact that he provides shelter and a bed to his prey before he ends their lives. …show more content…
In “The Most Dangerous Game”, Rainsford is terrified to find that General Zaroff is actually a murder. Rainsford is listening intently to the new “species” that General Zaroff is describing as hunt for his game. General Zaroff has a passion and has become obsessed with hunt because it “had been (his) life”, but sadly “hunting was beginning to bore (him)”. He was eager to continue hunting because of how much he enjoyed it. He needed a new way to satisfy himself while still involving himself in hunting. He decided to go to the extremity of killing people to satisfy himself and make him find new excitement in the one hobby that used to be his life and his source of happiness. General Zaroff’s love and passion for hunting cause him to kill and murder because hunting animals was not satisfying him anymore. Rainsford realizes that he is in the presence of a murderer and when General Zaroff is describing how he has found a new hunt for killing Rainsford figures out that “what (General Zaroff) speak of is murder”. While Zaroff is defending himself by saying that he is not murdering, he does not realize that he sounds foolish because he is saying that he has fallen in love with hunting of humans’ The idea that someone is no joke, but General Zaroff thinks “it’s a game”. Consequently, General Zaroff’s dark side comes through because his love for hunting
In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, General Zaroff is shown as a murderous, uncaring, and creepy. Zaroff is shown to be murderous in the story when he tells Rainsford that he kills people for fun. “I hunt the scum of the earth–sailors from tramp ships–lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels” (Connell 78). This quotes shows that Zaroff is murderous because he created his own game to kill people. During the story Zaroff is also uncaring. He shows that he is uncaring when he says it gives him pleasure to watch men die. “That is why I use them. It gives me pleasure” (Connell 70). Zaroff shows that he is uncaring during this scene because he does not care about how people he kills feel. Lastly, Zaroff is also creepy in the story.
Furthermore in the story “The Most Dangerous Game” General Zaroff had a strive to kill for fun. Zaroff would always kill animals, and after animals became easy, he moved onto humans. Zaroff would enjoy killing and it became
Then Zaroff explains the rules of the game to Rainsford; the prey is given food, clothes, a knife, and three hour head start, if Zaroff doesn’t catch his prey within three days they’re is declared the winner and is sent home on a boat, so long as Zaroff’s game is not shared with others. If Zaroff catches his prey before the three day are up, they get kills and their head gets mounted on his wall. Then Zaroff tells Rainsford that anyone who refuses to be hunted gets tortured by Ivan and that he hasn’t lost the game yet because he is extremely skilled and uses his dogs if the game starts to look like a loss. Without this scene Rainsford wouldn’t have learned what “the most dangerous game” is; he wouldn’t have figured out why Zaroff created and plays this game, how the game is played, what happens before and after the game, and what happens to the people who refuse to play. Therefore without this scene the story wouldn’t make sense; without this scene there would be no story. That’s why this scene is the most important scene in “The Most Dangerous
In the story Zaroff thinks it's not a problem if he kills the innocent people for fun. This mindset of his is openly showing signs of being a protagonist and going to do evil things throughout the story. In his conversation with Rainsford he clearly states that, "Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong,, andif needs be, taken by the strong.” He states that he should be aloud to kill just because in his mind only the strong people in the world have the will to live. When Zaroff says "Thank you, I'm a hunter, not a murderer." Also states that he thinks that he's not a murderer he's simply a hunter. Which means in his way of thinking or the way he looks at it what he's doing is not wrong he's hunting them, trying to figure out whose strong and who is not. He decides to hunt humans because he says there the only match for him no other animal is enjoyable for him to hunt. He has the sense of superiority that humans were the only thing left. Zaroff then states “The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure.” He thinks his actions are justifiable and that that's what the weak people are here for to give the more stronger and equip people pleasure. Zaroff then says “I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not?” In his mind since he is a good strong hunter why should not he be able to hunt he calls this a gift and takes a lot of pride in it. This is another statement he says showing he thinks what he is doing is good, eliminating what he says “scum of the earth” so the strong are the ones to live.
General Zaroff said “I wanted the ideal animal to hunt, it must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason" (Connell, page 101 or 11). What general Zaroff said meant that he wanted to hunt humans. The whole reason is because he got "bored" of hunting the same thing. He wants something that can "match his wits". Rainsford told him it was considered murder and that such thing should not be committed. Rainsford respects and values human life. While General Zaroff thinks that they should be hunted and murdered and he compares it with war. General Zaroff asked him to join him to hunt for humans. Rainsford instead said “Thank you, I’m a hunter, not a murderer” (Connell, page 102 or 13). Even though, at the end of the story, he killed General Zaroff. He did this because he thought of the consequences. He knew if Zaroff stayed alive, he would continue playing "the game" and he would harm a bunch of other innocent and desperate humans looking for shelter. Also, at the beginning of the story, Rainsford comments "who cares how a jaguar feels" (Connell, page 2 or 92). At the end of the story, he finally felt what an animal feels when they are being hunted or chased. And I am guessing that after all of that, he has grown to respect what the animal
Connell shows the reader the ugliness of humanity and the one-sided thought process of the human mind through irony in his storyline. "’For the hunter,’ amended Whitney. ‘Not for the jaguar.’ ‘Don't talk rot, Whitney,’ said Rainsford. ‘You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels?’ ‘Perhaps the jaguar does,’ observed Whitney.” (Connell). Rainsford remarks that he does not care about the feeling of the jaguar. This is ironic because Rainsford himself is later hunted like the jaguar. He then learns the fear and pain of being prey. Rainsford crouches amid the leaves of the tree where he hides and Zaroff watches him from beneath. After Zaroff departs, Rainsford then admits that he knows the full meaning of terror. This quote helps to show parallels the terrors seen in war. "’you’ll find this game worth playing,’ the General said enthusiastically" (Connell). This is ironic because what Zaroff intends to do is hardly a game and instead Rainsford is running from Zaroff for his life, which is definitely not a game that is 'worth playing'. Richard Connell in addition uses irony to show the way that hunting is a game to Zaroff but is in reality a matter of life and death. "Rainsford admires Zaroff's collection of trophy heads, declaring that he believes the Cape Buffalo to be the most dangerous game of all. Zaroff demurs without providing details, suggesting that he has stocked his island with even something far more menacing” (D’Ammassa). Hunting is his main occupation in life, and he is rich enough to indulge himself. Zaroff is the hunter who exists only for the pleasure of the chase and the kill. His interests are selfish, his actions amoral. Zaroff refuses to immediately divulge the nature of the game he hunts, but he insists that he has invented “a new sensation.” Zaroff then tells his host that he had grown bored with hunting because he always
Imagine being on an island, with no laws, no society, just the need to survive. When a normal hunter is going to Rio to hunt, the story takes a wild turn and ends up inverted, with the hunter becoming the prey. This is the plot of Richard Connell's short story, ”The Most Dangerous Game”, this short story was unique and interesting to most readers because of the series of unfortunate events. In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, man vs. man, along with man vs. self can lead to an unexpected resolution.
As self-defense has taken place, Rainsford has taken action to place punishment towards crime. General Zaroff and Rainsford are having a conversation. General Zaroff and Rainsford share meals together as both get to know each other. While talking together, Rainsford has found out that he and General Zaroff both hunt. As normal humans hunt small, easy prey, General Zaroff hunt for bigger prey. Once General Zaroff told Rainsford that he hunts bigger prey, Rainsford thought General Zaroff hunted big games like a bear or cheetah. General Zaroff’s big games were hunting humans and not animals. As General Zaroff told Rainsford that he hunted humans, Rainsford told the truth
Rainsford thought what Zarroff did was murder, not hunt. “Hunting? Good God, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder.” (Connell 34). Rainsford was repealed by the fact that general kills humans for fun. Rainsford was shocked that Rainsford kills humans. Rainsford was stating that he was not a murderer he was a hunter. “Thank you, I'm a hunter, not a murderer.” (Connell 34). He'd rather be himself (a hunter) instead of like him(a murderer). Rainsford was shown all the human heads taken by Zarroff. “I want to show you my collection of heads. Will you come to me to the library?” “I hope said rainsford, “that you will excuse me tonight, general zaroff. I’m really not feeling at all well” (Connell 29). Rainsford doesn't like his ways so he wouldn’t want to be like him. Rainsford does not want to be like general Zarroff because the human heads Zarroff had disgusted
I am speaking of hunting.” “Hunting? Great Guns, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder.” (10) (AN) In this quote, General Zaroff displays his relaxed and carefree attitude towards the killing of other human beings in this quote by the implied connotation of his words. By having such nonchalant tone on such an insidious viewpoint proves that Zaroff has a much different mindset than mainstream society who views his actions as sinister. Zaroff’s internal aspirations and ideas on murder are very present in his non-conformist style of “hunting.” (Trans) While hunting Zaroff also shows his motivations for doing so. (CD) During the first day of the hunt Zaroff unknowingly has Rainsford cornered up a tree, however, once Zaroff sees Rainsford he pretends not to notice, “It was General Zaroff. He made his way along with his eyes fixed in concentration … the sharp eyes of the hunter stopped before they reached the limb where Rainsford lay; a smile spread over his brown
Rainsford responds by saying, “‘Hunting? Great Guns, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder’” (Connell 12). Rainsford confronts Zaroff about his game he has created and tells him that it’s murder, and nothing but murder, to go hunt people like that.
Sanger Rainsford, shows this very clearly as he takes the life of General Zaroff. He showed how cruel and barbaric General Zaroff really was. Before Rainsford thought he had found a fellow hunter until ‘“ Hunting? Good God, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder.”’ (63).
However, Rainsford objects his reasons to hunt humans, “Hunting? Great guns, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder,” (8). That is when Zaroff starts thinking Rainsford is starting to become weak, and hunting is the only thing on his mind so he rejects, “I hunt the scum of the earth; sailors from tramp ships, lassars, blacks, chinese, whites, mongrels, a thoroughbred horse or hounds worth more than a score of them,” (9). Zaroff disrespects and doesn’t care about other races, but at least Rainsford objects to the fact he traps them to hunt them for his own enjoyment. Rainsford refuses to join Zaroff in his hunt, in which he becomes disappointed and offers Rainsford a choice, “As you wish, my friend. The choice rests entirely with you. But may I not venture to suggest that you will find my idea of sport more diverting than Ivan’s,” (11). Zaroff left him with a choice, to either play a dangerous game with Zaroff or be tortured by Ivan. Zaroff, thinking that Rainsford will take a chance with him, said, “You will find this game worth playing. Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and stamina against mine,” (11). Rainsford took the 3 day chance to elude Zaroff for three days in a life and death situation, and
In the dire situation of being thrown into the hunt, when most would have reacted irrationally in blind panic, Rainsford regains his calm quickly and immediately sets out to create a complex trail, telling himself repeatedly “I must keep my nerve.” (6) Moreover, it is clear from the conversation between Zaroff and Rainsford regarding the general’s new, disturbing hunting sensation that Rainsford has strong morals and values human life. Rainsford’s scruples give him the bravery to heavily imply that Zaroff is a murderer and to question the general’s claims of being civilized, even as Zaroff becomes increasingly annoyed (4). However, Rainsford’s hunting career made him, above all, a survivor, and it seems that his morals are conditional to his own survival. This is shown most clearly at the frankly shocking events that unfolded at the end of the story, when Rainsford leaps off the cliff and finds his way back to the château to lurk in Zaroff’s room, and upon the general’s return, they dueled to the death (8). A darker aspect of Rainsford’s character is revealed in the last three paragraphs, and he even refers to himself as a cornered animal
When Rainsford first meets Generals Zaroff, he is shocked at how civilized and well-kept Zaroff was. Rainsford drank his fancy wine, and ate his borscht. He would not have considered himself superior to General Zaroff at that point, because he was being a gentleman. As Rainsford and Zaroff talk, however, Rainsford gets a grimmer picture that Zaroff is a man-hunter who hunts to please his adventure-seeking spirit. Zaroff was almost pompous as he talked about himself. Zaroff, a man with great spirit for competition, challenged Rainsford to hunt with him. Rainsford believes in the hunt of animals, but not murdering other human beings for pleasure. As the two men hunt, however, adrenaline and prey-like instincts flush over Rainsford and he begins