...Many people look at themselves in the mirror and say, " I know who I am." But how many of them have done so after analyzing themselves through a story? And if they have done that, how many of them were being honest with themselves? A Lacanian analysis can bring out sides of us that we didn't know existed. I found this to be true after reading "The Most Dangerous Game." By looking at the events in the story and the characters that play them out, I found that there is a part of me that has an insatiable curiosity and a love of danger. To begin with, by looking closely at the main characters and their actions, I found a small part of myself in each of them. When Rainsford heard gunshots from the yacht, he jumped up onto the ship's railing. My initial response was, "Why would you do such a thing when no one is there to help if you fall?" I believe that this was my logical, sensible reaction. However, if I look at the situation with a sense of curiosity I find that I would have done the same thing. I think this is because, even though I've always tried to be a responsible, reasoning person, I have always had a desire to be carefree and daring. I think that want comes from movies I've seen in the past and books I've read in which the female characters were adventurous and lived for danger. I can remember times when I would finish reading a book, perhaps, and try to be just like the adventuring character. I can also look at General Zaroff, too, and see a hidden facet...
Words: 794 - Pages: 4
...The Most Dangerous Game In the story “The Most Dangerous Game” a hunter and another hunter gets hunted. General Zaroff met another hunter in the story “The Most Dangerous Game” named Rainsford. Rainsford fell off his yacht and ends up having to swim to shore. Rainsford ends up being hunted by General Zaroff. They start to put the skills against each other. In the story “The Most Dangerous Game” there is a saying that there are two classes the hunters and the prey. I agree with the statement because it’s describing how the statement works in hunting. Who were the hunters in the story? “I read all books on hunting published in English and in Russian. I have but one passion and that is hunting Mr.Rainsford and it is the hunt.” The hunters in...
Words: 523 - Pages: 3
...The theory of “hunt or be hunted” is an idea often discussed and debated. Some state that it is always present, in some shape or form, while others argue that it does not apply to all circumstances. In The Most Dangerous Game, the hunter/hunted ideology is a prominent component. In the story, General Zaroff actually hunts Rainsford in a sort of game, hence, “The Most Dangerous Game.” Though this story is a clear example of the hunter/hunted complex in action, it is only one example. In another circumstance, the hunter/hunted complex would be irrelevant and therefore absent. In this particular story, a man called General Zaroff serves as the hunter. In the beginning, and even before the game begins, Zaroff boasts about his intelligence against the animals he’d hunted before. One example of his gasconade would be “Simply this: Hunting had ceased to be what you call ‘a sporting proposition.’ It had become too easy. I always got my quarry.(pg 234)” This quote portrays Zaroff’s pride and skill in being a hunter, along with his detachment to the game he hunts. Preceding this event, Zaroff himself states, “God makes some men poets. Some He makes kings, some beggars. Me He...
Words: 609 - Pages: 3
...on an island or desert by yourself with no one to help you, but yourself? In the story "The Most Dangerous Game" a man named Rainsford get washed up on an island called Ship Trap Island. Little did he know that this island was used for a game made by a sociopath called General Zarroff. This game is the last game you would want to play. The rules are; You have three days to survive on the island with food, and a knife, and no going out of bounds! However, General Zarroff is an excellent hunter and thinker, he has never lost his game. This story is very much alike to the movie High Noon which takes place in the old west. Will Kane also known as the marshall got married to his quaker wife, Amy. On this day Will decides to retire from being marshall and move somewhere new with Amy. However, he is told Frank Miller, the man he put into jail is coming back to get revenge. Will has till noon to decide whether he wants to...
Words: 959 - Pages: 4
...“The Most Dangerous Game,” by Richard Connell is a short story about conflict. The two main characters are the world renowned hunter, Mr. Sanger Rainsford, and Russian Cossack General Zaroff. In the story, Rainsford is on a friend’s yacht, and while he is on the yacht he is smoking a cigar. He hears a sound that intrigues him. He is curious because it sounded like a gunshot. Curiously, he hops on the railing. While teetering on the yacht’s railing, his cigar falls out of his mouth. He tries to catch it, but it falls into the ocean and he falls off the railing. While struggling to keep afloat in the ocean, Rainsford yells at the top his lungs hoping that someone aboard the yacht will hear him and tell the captain to turn the yacht around. However,...
Words: 1500 - Pages: 6
...Dwight Lyman once said "Character is what you are in the dark." In other words, someone's true nature is on the inside. I agree because characters are often forced to hide who they are. In the story "The Most Dangerous Game," the author shows that Rainsford needs to control himself, be aware of his situation and surroundings, and stay patient to win the game. Rainsford needs control of himself when dealing with Zaroff, when he figures out he is going to be hunted he panics and tried to get away, but he pulls himself together and tries to get a grasp on the situation. Then, when Zaroff finds him hiding in a tree, Rainsford panics again knowing that he's being toyed with. Once again, he regains self control and focuses on a plan. Even when...
Words: 295 - Pages: 2
...In “The Most Dangerous Game”, Richard Connell creates a surprising ending by building up suspense on how Rainsford will get out off of Ship Trap Island. One way this is done is in the begining of the story, General Zaroff offers to Rainsford to see his newest collection of heads it was almost an alarm in Rainsford’s brain that there was something off about Zaroff. “I want to show you my new collection of heads. Will you come with me to the libray?’ ‘I hope,’ Said Rainsford, ‘ that you will excuse me tonight, General Zaroff. I’m really not feeling well.’” Rainsford was nervous about getting to know General Zaroff even more after learning about the new big game. It add suspense making us think about the possibility of Zaroff allowing Rainsford...
Words: 328 - Pages: 2
...The “Most Dangerous Game” was written in 1924 by Richard Connell. In the beginning, after Rainsford falls off his ship and winds up on an ominous island, he meets the affable General Zaroff. At first, Zaroff appears to a very affable person, although Rainsford soon finds out that Zaroff is actually sadistic. To clarify, Rainsford discovers that Zaroff takes joy out of hunting humans for sport. With this in mind, Zaroff spurs on an interesting game of cat and mouse with Rainsford. Symbols, foreshadows, and allusions create suspense for the reader while reading the story. These literary devices all help move the story forward as well as keep the reader on edge. Throughout the story Connell uses symbols to keep readers interested. For example,...
Words: 992 - Pages: 4
...The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell shows readers how unethical hunting is. The human condition makes a reader think very carefully about the ethics of everything not just hunting.These ethics make someone question everything that they do.In relation to the human condiion of morals and ethics “The Most Dangerous Game” is in many ways a moral taboo.Throughout the story the many literary elements help make the human condition even more evident along with the literary criticism from outside sources.The human condition is demostrated on many levels ,but all boils down to does the way things are percieved change how you view them. One of the most common literary devices in this story is conflict. The one that most reflects on ethics of...
Words: 592 - Pages: 3
...In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, there are many instances of imagery. For example when Connell describes the ocean as “blood-warm.” it gives the reader the idea that something spooky or strange is about to happen. The connection between blood and red is extremely obvious, but it’s useful to think about how many other things are colored red and also how Connell uses this color to suggest violence and fear. Our first impression of red is the face of Zaroff, whose “smile showed red lips and pointed teeth.” A few lines later, he shows his “curious red-lipped smile,” so the zaroff sounds a bit like a vampire. The dining experience that Zaroff and Rainsford share also reads like a blood festival. They enjoy a traditional soup called...
Words: 345 - Pages: 2
...“The Most Dangerous Game” Richard Connell the author of “The Most Dangerous Game” wrote a very suspenseful story. This story takes place in the caribbean jungle, it takes place here because Zaroff likes hunting big game but it soon begins to bore him. Zaroff meets Rainsford in the jungle and sees his hunting skills and realizes that they are good. Zaroff invites him to to his house, but little does he know what he is getting himself into. Clearly, Richard Connell wrote a very intresting story. There are different types of hunters in the story. “You're a big time hunter, not a philosopher” (Connell 216). This quote is describing that while Zaroff and Rainsford hunt, they do not waste time to get to their prey. Zaroff hunts big game like...
Words: 476 - Pages: 2
...There are many suspenseful moments in the “Most Dangerous Game” but the most suspenseful moments in my opinion are when the sailors had a cautious behavior while near Ship Trap Island, Zaroff hunting Rainsford, and Rainsford jumping off the cliff. Suspense in a book can help the reader stay intrested in the story and keep on reading it. The first suspenseful moment in the story was when the sailors were acting weird around Ship Trap Island. This is suspenseful because the sailors know that there is something bad around that island but they don’t know what is going to happen. This is also suspenseful to the reader because the reader doesn’t know if anything is going to happen to the ship. Another suspenseful moment in “The Most Dangerous Game”...
Words: 296 - Pages: 2
...In literature, conflict is always important. In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, there are many examples of conflict portrayed throughout the story. A few examples given are man vs. man, man vs. nature, and man vs. self. One of the most well represented conflicts in “The Most Dangerous Game” is man vs. man. This is shown when Zaroff is hunting Rainsford. Rainsford also fought with Whitney about hunting jaguars. While on the ship, Rainsford asked, “Who cares about how the jaguar feels?” Whitney replied, “Perhaps the jaguar does.” This started an argument between the two. Both of these conflicts show two people arguing or fighting. Another example of conflict in “The Most Dangerous Game” is man vs. nature. When Rainsford falls...
Words: 262 - Pages: 2
...Have you heard of the popular short story titled The Most Dangerous Game. What about a very popular movie made in the 1950s that is called High Noon? Both are about survival. Both are about isolation. Both put the characters to the ultimate test. However, there are differences. Something about the character that puts him out from the rest. What are those things that make characters alike or different? What about the setting, or the theme. What makes the story. Lets hope we find out. Lets start with the setting. What are some of the similarities that are evident the stories. For one thing, both settings are very remote, and very isolated."He saw that straight flight was futile; inevitably it would bring him face to face with the sea. He was in a picture with a frame of water, and his operations, clearly, must take place within that frame"(Connell 11). This quote shows that Rainsford, one of the main characters, is on very limited space. "Pierce and Colby are staring down the gleaming...
Words: 456 - Pages: 2
...Most Dangerous Game In the story “Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, Rainsford the main character is trapped on an island with a crazy hunter who was bored with hunting found a way to spice things he hunt people. Many parts in the story make people think about why he would do such a thing hunt people. When General Zaroff explains his game of hunting to Rainsford it is obvious that to hunt people is wrong. One thing in the story is hard to answer it is when Rainsford talks to his friend. It is when Rainsford classifies the world into two categories the hunters and the hunties. The story says “My hand were made for the trigger…”(pg 223 Connell) and for the hunters that is how they feel but, that is how the people in the world feel...
Words: 565 - Pages: 3
