Most Dangerous Game

2 Pages 454 Words

A person is unable to empathize with another unless he has shared a similar
experience. Often one will come to realize the feeling of another. In, “The Most
Dangerous Game” by Richard Connel, the characters are both skilled hunters
who find themselves pitted against each other in the ultimate game of cat and
mouse. When Sanger Rainsford meets the formidable General Zaroff, he learns
what true fear is and discovers the resources needed to overcome his foe.
General Zaroff is a cruel and heartless hunter. He tells Rainsford that he
must hunt an animal that can reason and that humans are the only thing that
can, so he hunts them. Zaroff must be mentally ill to hunt humans. He must
feel a sense of superiority when he makes a kill. In addition Zaroff placed lights
in the ocean to indicate a false channel full of jagged rocks which will tear metal
like its paper. Zaroff must have a strong need to keep his human “stock” in high
numbers. To destroy ships and have survivors swim to his island is the only way
he can keep hunting humans. Furthermore, Zaroff keeps the men he will hunt in
a training camp in his basement. Because the sailors are not used to being on
land Zaroff must put them in training camp to let them get used to the land so he
can hunt them in a dangerous game. General Zaroff likes his opponents to be
physically fit. General Zaroff’s hobby of hunting humans is sick and ruthless.
Sanger Rainsford is a cunning and resourceful opponent. For example,
while playing the game with General Zaroff, Rainsford digs a deep hole and puts
large, sharp sticks in the bottom and covers the hole with brush. Rainsford is
good at making good use of what he has. Rainsford doesn’t give up when he
might be considered the underdog. In addition, Rainsford ties a knife to a vine
and makes a booby trap for Zaroff, which misses Zaroff and hits his assistant
Ivan. Although Rainsford misses his opponen...