The Most Dangerous Game
Ryan Long
English 102-501 Monday Night
Essay #2
23 September 2012
Essay #2
Question: Discuss the characterizations of Rainsford and General Zaroff in “The Most Dangerous Game.” Which one is more fully characterized? Are both characters plausible?
The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, the author portrays two distinctly alike men, who yet are very different. The two main characters, Sanger Rainsford and General Zaroff both have a strong passion for hunting. The first is Rainsford and he is, in all extensive purposes, the protagonist. The second, the antagonist, is General Zaroff. There is one other character, Ivan, but he really is simply, just a butler to the antagonist. While, the story does elude that Ivan could be a bigger character if the wrong choice is made. However when it comes to their values of the sport, they hold opposing views. Sanger Rainsford is an adventurous big-game hunter who confronts the nature of life and death for the first time in his life during his few frightening days on Ship-Trap Island. He’s survived numerous near-death experiences, from fighting on the frontlines during World War I to hunting dangerous animals in some of the world’s most exotic locations. Rainsford’s wartime experience has reinforced his ultimate belief in the consideration of human life and the respect it deserves. He believes that killing is murder (Connell). He sets out on a hunt for wild animals, which he refers to as “the best sport in the world.” Rainsford was diligent and did not give up. he is a very resourceful and intelligent man, in that he knows that he needs to make an extensive trail so as maybe to lose the General (Connell). Rainsford was much focused. He was also cunning because he was able to construct traps to harm or kill General Zaroff. Unfortunately these didn't work as well as he would have liked but they did kill Zaroff's right-hand man Ivan and killed his best dog. One of these traps that Rainsfords knows how to make is a Malay
English 102-501 Monday Night
Essay #2
23 September 2012
Essay #2
Question: Discuss the characterizations of Rainsford and General Zaroff in “The Most Dangerous Game.” Which one is more fully characterized? Are both characters plausible?
The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, the author portrays two distinctly alike men, who yet are very different. The two main characters, Sanger Rainsford and General Zaroff both have a strong passion for hunting. The first is Rainsford and he is, in all extensive purposes, the protagonist. The second, the antagonist, is General Zaroff. There is one other character, Ivan, but he really is simply, just a butler to the antagonist. While, the story does elude that Ivan could be a bigger character if the wrong choice is made. However when it comes to their values of the sport, they hold opposing views. Sanger Rainsford is an adventurous big-game hunter who confronts the nature of life and death for the first time in his life during his few frightening days on Ship-Trap Island. He’s survived numerous near-death experiences, from fighting on the frontlines during World War I to hunting dangerous animals in some of the world’s most exotic locations. Rainsford’s wartime experience has reinforced his ultimate belief in the consideration of human life and the respect it deserves. He believes that killing is murder (Connell). He sets out on a hunt for wild animals, which he refers to as “the best sport in the world.” Rainsford was diligent and did not give up. he is a very resourceful and intelligent man, in that he knows that he needs to make an extensive trail so as maybe to lose the General (Connell). Rainsford was much focused. He was also cunning because he was able to construct traps to harm or kill General Zaroff. Unfortunately these didn't work as well as he would have liked but they did kill Zaroff's right-hand man Ivan and killed his best dog. One of these traps that Rainsfords knows how to make is a Malay
Cited: Connell, Richard Edward. “The Most Dangerous Game.” 28 August 2012 <http://fiction.eserver.org/short/the_most_dangerous_game.html>.