Rainsford In The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

Character Analysis “Serving doesn't mean staying alive… it means living to your potential.” These words by Antoinette explain that man will do anything to survive. Doing everything necessary to survive is the main theme of “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell. The main character in the short story, Rainsford, a guy who gets stuck on Trap Island, has to defeat General Zaroff and his game. This incident causes him to kill Ivan, the servant, and General Zaroff. However, it is his desire to do anything that motivates him to survive and defeat Zaroff's game. First, his goal is to simply do anything to survive. Consequently, Rainsford gets closer to winning and kills General Zaroff at the end of the short story. Therefore, Rainsfords motivation is to win the game, and do anything to survive. The author, Richard Connell, shows that man will do literally everything to stay alive.
Rainsford begins to plot down what he will do to win the game, since General Zaroff has not lost any of them before, “The softness of the earth had gave him an idea” (45). In addition, General Zaroff has never lost to anybody, Rainsford gets ideas and plans to kill General Zaroff with different methods. Obviously, everyone in life has thoughts of giving up in a race or battle, “I will not lose my nerve. I will not” (43). Rainford, at this point, can not give up and will do about anything to win and defeat him. Consequently, Rainsfords motivation is to attempt to kill