The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell Analysis

Michelle Anne Rubio Mrs. McCann English 9 20 October 2011 How do Rainsford’s actions affect the story’s theme? In the short story, The Most Dangerous Game, Richard Connell tells the tale of an exceptionally skilled hunter named Rainsford. Rainsford falls off his yacht and ends up on the shores of Ship Trap Island, home to the evil General Zaroff and finds himself in a game of man vs. man against a person who finds thrill in hunting and killing human beings. However, despite the fact that Rainsford is forced to face a surplus of life threatening obstacles he does not back down.

Throughout this story Rainsford’s skill, whit, determination, and persistence are put to the test over and over again in this game; the odds are not in his favor but he quickly grasps the reality that if he is to survive he must will himself to do so. Evidently, Rainsford’s hardwork is rewarded in the end when he beats the General at his own game but more importantly saves his own life. Rainsford is told about Ship Trap Island where, through sailor lore, those who arrive on the island never return home. Whitney states, “Those fishy blue eyes held a look I never saw there before. This quote explains a scene in the story where Rainsford notices a look in the captain’s eyes that he has never seen before which reveal a sense of suspicion and alertness, as well as a hint of fear. This quote hints the future of the story by comparing the scared look in the captain’s eyes and being “Fishy” or suspicious; thus foreshadowing the dangers of Ship Trap Island. Although Rainsford has seen the fear in the captain’s eyes, his opinion on hunting remains the same as he states, “Pure imagination. ” In this scene, this quote shows how Rainsford is not shaken by the sailor lore that seems to have everyone else on edge.

This shows that Rainsford acquires a kind of competence toward something in the story that in fact, is very serious. Rainsford is headstrong about his “Bravery” toward Ship Trap Island despite of everyone else’s fear toward it. Rainsford has fallen off the yacht but fortunately has been able to pursue through and end up on the shores of Ship Trap Island. “But as he forged along, he saw to his great astonishment that all the lights were in one enormous building- a lofty structure with pointed towers plunging up into the gloom. This scene describes the point in the story where Rainsford is on the island and sees the chateau. This quote lines up Rainsford to meet General Zaroff as he brings himself to arrive at his chateau. “There is no greater bore than perfection. ” In this scene General Zaroff and Rainsford are talking about their take on hunting when General Zaroff non-shalontly implies his psychotic opinion that it is okay to hunt humans by telling Rainsford how everything else has failed to satisfy his thrill.

This quote shows the loss of interest General Zaroff is experiencing because he no longer finds hunting as a challenge. General Zaroff makes it clear to Rainsford what his interest on this island is and Rainsford suddenly finds himself in a life-threatening situation when General Zaroff wants him to take part in his game. Rainsford is forced to compete with the evil General Zaroff in a game of man vs. man. “Keep your nerve, Keep your nerve. In this scene, Rainsford is playing in the game against the General and is having trouble adjusting to the level of persistence and skill that he needs in order to survive. This quote shows the amount of pressure that Rainsford is in as he struggles to keep himself under control in order to stay focused. “But, perhaps, the General was the devil. ” In this scene Rainsford had created a trail in which he hoped to trick General Zaroff with however, it did not work. This quote shows very bluntly, what Rainsford thinks of General Zaroff by comparing his evil with the devil.

Throughout this story, Rainsford has been striked with many surprises but he knew better than to let the blows of hardship knock him down. As the game goes on it does not get easier for Rainsford, but he sure does not go easier on this game. As he is challenged by General Zaroff, a man of savagery, he is constantly pushed further and further past his limits. However, General Zaroff is no match for the amount of determination Rainsford holds within himself. Due to the fact that Rainsford did not give up even when things were so vastly unfortunate he ends up winning the game