"Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth: sailors from tramp ships--lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels--a 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 respectable host, one that is very welcoming.