Premium Essay

Rainsford's Character In The Most Dangerous Game

Submitted By
Words 445
Pages 2
Imagine a carnivore stranded alone in an uninhabited, fruit abundant island, void of animals. In order to survive the carnivore must adopt a herbivores diet.
Much like the carnivore, Sanger Rainsford, the main character in Richard Connell's Most Dangerous Game, experience is a change in character after surviving a life-threatening situation.
Rainsford is a hunter who is forced to participate in a manhunt, as the prey, undergoes a change in character.

At the beginning of the story, Rainsford shows no sympathy for the animals. In the story, when he says, "you're a big game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares have a jaguar feels?"(page 3) He is showing his lack of empathy for animals. All his life Rainsford has been the hunter, not the hunted, and has no knowledge of the fear experienced by his prey. It also shows that he has never taken the time to think about the animals when he makes the "philosopher" comment. Rainsford also makes the claim that "I'm a hunter, not a murderer"( page 12) when the general invites Rainsford to go hunting with. Is the plot to still unfolding …show more content…
One instance is "Then he felt a sudden impulse to cry aloud with joy for he heard the sharp crackle of branches as the cover of the pit gave way; he heard the sharp scream of pain as the pointed stakes found their mark" (page 19). This shows that his statement of him being a hunter not a murderer isn't entirely true. At the end of the story he does commit murder when he pushes General Zaroff out the window. Rainsford begins to associate with his prey when he says "it was then that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror"( page 17). Earlier in the story, Rainsford claimed not to care for his preys feelings, but now he knows how the prey feels. Also as the tables turn Rainsford begins to act more like a "huntie" as he calls his prey. As the story progresses Rainsford begins to show more empathy for

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Analyzing Rainsford's Character From 'The Most Dangerous Game'

...“The Most Dangerous Game” talks about hunting and how Rainsford’s perspective on hunting changes throughout the story. Rainsford and his fellow hunters were on a journey to Rio, as they were sailing they started talking about how Rainsford thought animals didn’t feel, and how there was an island up ahead. This island in particular had a terrifying reputation. As they sailed by, Rainsford washed up on the beach of this island, now his survival skills will be tested. Rainsford and his companions were on an adventure. On the way, they had come upon an island. This island was known as “Ship-Trap Island”. Ship-Trap Island had a horrific reputation. “ Even cannibals wouldn't live in such a God- forsaken place.” That night when Rainsford had gone to sleep he was awakened by gunshots “Rainsford sprang up and moved quickly to...

Words: 667 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

...story. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell is a popular short story that has a 1932 film adaptation directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack, Irving Pichel. This 1932 rendition, is the first film adaptation of the short story from 1924. There are several obvious differences, as characters have been added and certain scenes that deviate from the original plot of the short story....

Words: 1508 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Chapter Summary: The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

...1. The dangerous obstacles that people face in life can reveal their true personalities.2. In the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game”, written by Richard Connell, the protagonist’s true personality shows. 3. Rainsford, the protagonist shows that he’s an intelligent, tough, and observant character that faces many obstacles in this short story. 4. In this short story Rainsford’s main characteristics shined, and one of his best characteristics is that he is intelligent. 5. The Quote, “Swam……. I found it quicker than walking,” (Connell 112) helps shows Rainsford’s intelligent. 6. The quote helps show that Rainsford was in a tough position, being hunted on the island, but he thought through his plans of survival. 7. Rainsford shows his intelligent by using the resources available to him. 8. The quote, “I’ll give him a trail to follow,” (Connell 107) shows how Rainsford is trying to lead Zaroff away from his trail. 9. The quote also helps show that Rainsford is wise about his choices on the island. 10. Rainsford’s intelligent shows as he decides to try and use the island to benefit him instead of harming him. 11. Rainsford’s intelligent really shines through in this short story....

Words: 493 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Analyzing Richard Connell's 'The Most Dangerous Game'

...Yu, Bo-bae Language Arts: Cochran The Most Dangerous Game CER How is the Ending of the “The Most Dangerous Game” ironic? Richard Connell’s suspenseful short story “The Most Dangerous Game” ends with an ironic twist due to the fact that the main character, Sanger Rainsford, gets to experience the feelings of fear the huntee goes through that he thought was just instinct. After Rainsford’s first encounter with General Zaroff, he realizes that he is being hunted down and he thinks, “The Cossack was the cat; he was the mouse. Then it was that Rainsford knew the true meaning of terror” (Connell 12). Before, Rainsford did not believe that the hunted had any feelings or reason, but after he was the one being hunted for a change, he is proven wrong...

Words: 310 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Fictional Essay

...Conflict and Theme in “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Destructors” English 102 Composition and Literature Spring 2016-D15 LUO Belinda Joseph–L27213212 APA Thesis Statement and Outline “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Destructors” Thesis Statement: Connell and Greene reveal with the use of irony, conflict and theme, mankind’s human nature, exposing man’s most primal instincts and desires through their characters. I. Irony A. The hunter becomes the hunted. 1. In a conversation about Jaguar hunting with Whitney, Rainsford exclaims, “You’re are a big game hunter, not a philosopher, who cares how a jaguar feels?" (Connell, 1924, p.1). 2. Rainsford is in the place of the prey and Zaroff has the advantage. “It was Rainsford who knew the full meaning of terror”. (Connell, 1924, p.11). 3. Roles reverse and Rainsford kills him in the end. “He had never slept in a better bed”. (Connell, 1924, p.13). B. Unexpected behavior. 4. Trevor the son of an architect becoming a gang leader. (Greene, 1954, p. 1). 5. Moral about Old misery’s money “We aren’t thieves....Nobody is going to steal anything from this house.” (Greene, 1954, p. 6). 6. Food and a blanket is taken to Old Misery “We don’t want you to starve Mr. Thomas” (Greene, 1954, p. 10). II. Conflict C. Rainsford struggle with “Man vs. Self” 7. Rainsford’s survival to stay alive. 8. Rainsford’s wits and state of mind. ...

Words: 1137 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Rainsford In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

...“Obstacles are necessary for success because as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats.” by Og Mandino.“The Most Dangerous Game” is a short story written by Richard Connell, which takes place after World War II on an abandoned island. The story talks about how Rainsford makes his way through General Zaroff's playground, narrowly escaping death at every corner. General Zaroff forces Rainsford into a game of murder that ends in Zaroff’s death. Throughout the story, Rainsford's beliefs,confidence, and perspective morphs and the story progresses, which makes him a dynamic character. The last obstacle that Rainsford overcome was the environment, which was the main cause of Rainsford being trapped on General Zaroff’s island, and it was also the reason why he eventually won the “ Most Dangerous Game”. The first obstacle that Rainsford overcame was the fear of being killed by General Zaroff....

Words: 695 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

High Noon Themes

...Another story which is centered around the protagonist's conflict with killing is Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game, where Rainsford, a big-game hunter, gets stranded on a mostly deserted island and is forced to play a "game" with General Zaroff--the game being three days of evading getting hunted by the general for sport. Although the conflicts of...

Words: 1059 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Comparison and Contrast of "The Child by Tiger" and "The Most Dangerous Game"

...Rivera 1 Marcos G. Rivera Prof. Lauren Lund English 102 14 July 2013 Comparison and Contrast of “The Child by Tiger” and “The Most Dangerous Game” The short story “The Child by Tiger” by Thomas Wolfe is a about a religious, talented Negro named Dick Prosser who served in the army and is the servant of a middle class family in the south. This story takes a shocking turn when Dick goes on a killing spree throughout the town and a mob finally reaches him and kills him with no remorse. In Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game”, Sanger Rainsford falls off of a yacht that was heading towards the Amazon for a hunting trip. He swims to an island where he finds himself being the hunted by General Zaroff an aristocrat who had dominated the sport of hunting to the point that he became so bored, he purchased the island to specifically hunt men. None of these men survived his game. That is until Rainsford has no choice but to also participate in this game. At some point of each story, the animalistic act of man hunting man is witnessed. In “The Child by Tiger” Wolfe demonstrates that no matter how strong a person may be mentally, a human will sooner or later have a breaking point. The author in this story may also be trying to make the reader understand how society or environment a person is surrounded by may sometimes lead an individual to commit such horrendous acts of violence. Dick Prosser is seen as a gentle person who suddenly goes through a rampage...

Words: 1102 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

The Most Dangerous Game vs the Lottery

...Introduction “The Lottery” written by Shirley Jackson and “The Most Dangerous Game” written by Richard Connell share a common theme of violence and cruelty. In “The Most Dangerous Game” humans are hunted, as mere animals, to serve as the perfect prey to satisfy a desire for challenge. In “The Lottery” the townspeople are forced to participate in a ritual that will result in the death of an unwilling participant to satisfy a belief that the sacrifice of one of their own will guarantee a bountiful harvest. By comparison, the elements of violence and cruelty demonstrate the self-centeredness that abounds in each story. The Taking of Life for Personal Satisfaction In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Connell depicts Rainsford, the protagonist of the story, as a seasoned hunter. Through a conversation with his friend Whitney, the reader learns of Rainsford’s lack of sympathy for his prey, despite Whitney’s assertion that the prey has a complete understanding of fear, “the fear of pain and the fear of death” (Connell, 2010). This information reveals to the reader Rainsford’s matter-of-fact attitude toward the emotions of the hunter and the hunted. Through a twist of fate, Rainsford is stranded on an island, which he is drawn to by gun fire after falling off a boat, where he encounters General Zaroff. Zaroff is initially portrayed as an accommodating host, offering Rainsford food, clothing, and a place to rest. The two men discuss their various hunting ventures and, through...

Words: 904 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

General Zaroff Character Sketch

...thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them." The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell is a short story following Rainsford and his conflicts with General Zaroff. In the beginning of the story, Rainsford falls over the railing of his yacht and swims to the shore of an uncharted island. Travelling through the island, hungry and exhausted, he stumbled upon a large chateau. Inside, he meets the island’s sole owner, General Zaroff; an eccentric, unsurpassed hunter who’s skills in hunting is similar to Rainsford’s. However Zaroff believes that anything is game including humans, an opinion Rainsford strongly opposes. They later engage in a one-on-one hunting match which leaves Rainsford as the winner and subsequently feeds the general to the hounds. General Zaroff is a difficult character due to his swayed characteristics; at one point he is of high-class and thoughtful towards his guests, while he also can be seen as a conceited murderer. These attributes and his serious stance towards hunting leave Zaroff as a complicated person. General Zaroff is a very thoughtful man, a trait that contrasts with his other traits. The first example to show the general’s respect towards others is the following quote: “We shouldn’t be chatting here. We can talk later. Now you want food, clothes, rest. You shall have them. This is a most-restful spot.” Another instance to prove the general’s thoughtfulness is one of Rainsford’s own thoughts. During the dinner he found the general to be a...

Words: 606 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Harrison Bergeron, Liberty, And The Most Dangerous Game

...Bergeron, Liberty, and The Most Dangerous Game they face many conflicts. These stories all are dealing with different situations but all have similar in different. Here’s how the stories compare and contrast. A difference between the stories is the character actions in the stories. In Harrison Bergeron it takes place in 2081. The two main characters are George and Hazel they have two different levels of intelligence and George has a handicap so it limits his train of thought. I’m comparing this to Liberty because they have to listen to Mister Victor cause without him something could happen to the girl’s family. The difference in the story is the location and the year they are in Harrison Bergeron is based off the future but Liberty is...

Words: 470 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Chapter Summary: The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

...A View from the Other Side Interpretive literature is written “to broaden, deepen, and sharpen the reader’s awareness of life.” “The Most Dangerous Game” written by Richard Connell is interpretive in the way Connell makes one think about the relationship of hunter and the hunted. The story is about Sanger Rainsford, a very experienced hunter that was on his way to the deep Amazon to hunt jaguars with his companion Whitney before he had fallen off of a yacht. This will forever change his outlook on life and force him to do things he would never have done. Rainsford has no empathy for animals and thinks they feel no fear while being hunted. This is shown in his conversation with Whitney. This same conversation is foreshadowing the events that will follow. Connell starts off the story with an eeriness mood talking about...

Words: 1474 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Mr. Rainsford In Richard Connell's Most Dangerous Game

...Rainsford’s Most Dangerous Game Good vs. evil is a widely known prompt in stories, movies, TV shows, etc. The villains and the heroes fighting to be the victor. It’s a dangerous game to play. Although for Mr.Rainsford, General Zaroff’s game is the most dangerous he will ever play. Throughout the time Rainsford spends on the lost island, he shows some traits that prove to be the undoubtful reasons he was able to break free from General Zaroff’s “hunting” trip. In The Most Dangerous Game, by Richard Connell, Rainsford is a intelligent, moralistic, and strong willed character who shows us that if you stick to your beliefs, good will always triumph over evil. Rainsford is an extremely intelligent character in the story, The Most Dangerous Game....

Words: 434 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Conflict In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

...Most short stories have just one or two types of conflict. However, in Richard Connell’s, The Most Dangerous Game, this short story has all three types of conflict. The most common type of conflict in a story, man against man, has General Zaroff hunting Rainsford, and Rainsford fighting for his life. For man against nature, Rainsford battles through all the burdensome obstacles on and around Ship-Trap Island. The last, but not least arduous, conflict is man against himself. Rainsford struggles to keep sane while General Zaroff hunts him. The type of conflict, man against man, may be the most popular type of conflict to be in a story. General Zaroff seeks pleasure in hunting humans, and Rainsford is his prey. “Rainsford’s impulse was to hurl...

Words: 634 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Most Dangerous Game Movie And Book Comparison Essay

...Theatrical adaptations of literature most often create similarities and differences between the piece of literature that it is modeling and itself. This can be seen in the short story The Most Dangerous Game and the film of the same name. Directors Irving Pichel and Ernest B. Schoedsack took the job of restyling the novel. Examples of parallels and distinctions can be seen predominantly in the setting, plot events, characters, and resolution of the two fictional arts. When a director of a screenplay reshapes a novel, it would be irrational to make changes to the setting, because it could make drastic changes to the plot events. This also holds true for the film version of The Most Dangerous Game. For example, the backdrop takes...

Words: 596 - Pages: 3