The Most Dangerous Game

1. Movies, Novels, stories, etc. with the same theme or storyline with the story “ The Most Dangerous Game”

1. Gilligan’s Island (TV series)
2. Lost in Space (TV series)
3. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV series)
4. The Simpsons (TV series)
5. The Hunger Games Trilogy (Novel/Movie)
6. Fantasy Island (Movie)
7. Predators (Movie)
8. Zodiac (Movie 2007)
9. Battle Royale (2000 Movie)
10. The Pest (1997 Movie)
11. Relic Hunter (Movie)
12. The Running man (Novel)
13. Hostel (2005 Movie)
14. Hard Target (Movie)
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2. Short Backround of the ff:
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3. Giligan’s Island (TV series) - The shipwrecked castaways want to leave the remote island, and various opportunities present themselves. They typically fail owing to some bumbling error committed by Gilligan (with the exception of "The Big Gold Strike", where everyone except Gilligan is responsible for their failed escape). Sometimes this would result in his saving the others from some unforeseen flaw in their plan.
4. Lost in Space (TV series) - The first appearance of a space-faring Robinson family was in a comic book published by Gold Key Comics, The Space Family Robinson, who travelled about also lost in space aboard Space Station one in December 1962.
5. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV series) “The Most Dangerous Game” is re-envisioned in the episode “Captive Pursuit.” A lone reptilian humanoid named Tosk is found on a damaged ship. The crew of the USS Defiant allows Tosk to board, offering to assist him in the repair of his ship. Before long more of the reptilian humanoids arrive, seeking to capture Tosk. As it is later explained, Tosk has been bred specifically to be hunted by the Hunters.
6. The Simpsons (TV Series) - an episode titled “Treehouse of Horror XVI” the infamous Mr. Burns invites a group of people to join a hunting party. In the end, the invitees realize that they are the ones being hunted.
7. The Hunger games (Novel) - details the adventure of Katniss Everdeen, who is forced to engage in a fight-to-the-death tournament against other children. The novel takes place in Panem, a dystopic country built on what was once North America. In a world of limited resources, the despotic government run by the Capitol keeps its citizens in line by separating them into Districts and reinforcing severe class separations. But their strongest tool to promote disunion and to discourage rebellion is the Hunger Games: a yearly event where two tributes from each district are pitted against each other for the country to watch on television.
8. Fantasy Island (TV Series)- Mr. Roarke, the enigmatic overseer of a mysterious island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, where people from all walks of life could come and live out their fantasies, albeit for a price.
9. Predators (movie)-The film follows Royce (Adrien Brody), a mercenary, who wakes up finding himself falling from the sky into a jungle. Once on the ground, he meets other people who have arrived there in the same manner, all of whom have questionable backgrounds, except for a doctor (Topher Grace). As the film progresses, the group discovers that they are on an alien planet that acts as a game preserve where they are being hunted by a merciless race of aliens known as Predators.
10. Zodiac (2007 Movie) - tells the story of the manhunt for a notorious serial killer known as "Zodiac" who killed in and around the San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1960s and early 1970s, leaving several victims in his wake and taunting police with letters and ciphers mailed to newspapers. The case remains one of San Francisco's most infamous unsolved crimes.
11. Battle Royale (Movie) - The film tells the story of Shuya Nanahara, a high-school student struggling with the death of his father, who is forced by the government to compete in a deadly game where the students must kill each other in order to win. The film aroused both domestic and international controversy and was either banned outright or deliberately excluded from distribution in several countries.
12. The Pest (1997 Movie) - a 1997 American comedy film inspired by the classic short story "The Most Dangerous Game". Comedian John Leguizamo plays a Puerto Rican con artist in Miami, Florida named Pestario Rivera Garcia Picante Salsa Vargas (also known as "Pest") who agrees to be the human target for a racist German manhunter for a US$50,000 reward.
13. Relic Hunter (TV Series)- It centers around Sydney Fox who is a professor but primarily a globe-trotting "relic hunter", looking for ancient artifacts to return to museums and/or the descendants of the original owner. She is aided by her linguistic assistant Nigel and occasionally by her somewhat air-headed secretary Claudia. She often ends up battling rival hunters seeking out artifacts for the money.
14. The Running Man (Novel)- The story follows protagonist Ben Richards as he participates in the game show The Running Man in which contestants, allowed to go anywhere in the world, are chased by "Hunters," employed to kill them.
15. Hostel (2005 movie)- The American pals Paxton and Josh meets with the Islander Oli in Paris and the three backpackers travel together to Switzerland, Belgium and Amsterdam having Barcelona as final destination, looking for sex, drugs and booze. While in Amsterdam, they meet Alex, who shows pictures of gorgeous women in gang bang, and suggests the trio to visit the hostel in Bratislava, Slovakia, a place crowded of hot, promiscuous and sexy girls. When they arrive, they meet three delicious girls in the hostel and they believe they have found the lost paradise of sex on Earth. But sooner they find that they have been sold to a sadistic group of the Elite Hunting, and their dream becomes their worst nightmare.
16. Hard Target (1993 Movie)- The film stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as Chance Boudreaux, an out-of-work Cajun merchant seaman who saves a young woman, Natasha Binder (Yancy Butler), from a gang of thugs in New Orleans. Chance learns that Binder is searching for her missing father (Chuck Pfarrer), and agrees to aid Binder in her search. Boudreaux and Binder soon learn that Binder's father has died at the hands of wealthy sportsman Emil Fouchon (Lance Henriksen) who hunts homeless men as a form of recreation.
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19. Major Themes
20. Hunters vs. the hunted
21. The most obvious theme of "The Most Dangerous Game" is that which arises from the relationship of the hunter and the hunted. At the very beginning of story, Rainsford and Zaroff are presented as equals. Both characters are well-accomplished big-game hunters. As the story unfolds, however, their roles change. Rainsford is thrust into the position of the hunted. However, he tries to undermine the game by setting traps for the hunter. Rainsford's form of hunting is passive whereas Zaroff's is active.
22. The fragility of this relationship between the hunted and the hunter is not only displayed in the resolution of the story but also through various passages. For example, Zaroff describes several interactions with animals that resulted in injury on his part.
23. Murder vs. hunting
24. The central moral theme of the story involves the distinction between murder and hunting. Rainsford sees a clear difference between the two, hence his disgust at Zaroff's hunting of men. Zaroff, on the other hand, sees his pastime as similar to a war.
25. This particular theme remains a source of tension throughout the story. As Rainsford is hunted, he does his best to try to destroy Zaroff through a series of traps. In the end, it is implied that Rainsford has proven to be the greater hunter. Rainsford's last line of the story indicates that he slept in Zaroff's bed. Such an action can be read as a metaphor for his unwilling conversion into a hunter of men.
26. Emphasis on color
27. The darkness presented in the first scene of the story continues through the hunt and the eventual demise of Zaroff. In addition, there are many references to the color black. Ivan is described as having a long, black beard. Zaroff has black eyebrows and a black beard. The eyes of many of the characters are described as black pools. The thematic use of darkness and the color black adds to the suspenseful, dramatic timbre of the story.
28. War as a hunt
29. The theme of war as a hunt resonates through the back story of "The Most Dangerous Game." Zaroff explicitly compares his game to warfare, as a form of justification. He also mentions the plight of the Cossacks, an ethnic group pushed out of Russia after the fall of the Czar. The manner in which they were hunted is similar to the way Zaroff hunts his current prey as the Cossacks were known as fierce warriors.
30. Questioning of accepted logic
31. Zaroff has a rather demented way of viewing the world, one that Rainsford has a difficult time understanding. Zaroff points out numerous times that the hunting of men is not much unlike the hunting of wild animals. Moreover, men have long participated in socially sanctioned activities, such as wars, that result in the death of the opposing party. Zaroff's comparisons and the subsequent hunt constantly raise the question of the validity of any type of hunting or war.
32. The irony of humanity
33. Zaroff is a man of contradictions. While being an extremely "civilized" man in the sense that he is knowledgeable about aspects of high culture, he also presents himself as barbaric. The entire island is a contradiction. The lavish house stands starkly against the dark jungle where the hunt occurs. In some ways, Zaroff can be seen as a stand-in for humanity. The same irony that Zaroff presents in "The Most Dangerous Game" is also present at the pinnacle of civilization today - highly advanced and educated civilizations still murdering each other over land and resources.
34. Inversion of roles
35. Throughout the story there are a series of role inversions. For example, the hunter becomes the hunted twice. The first time, Rainsford is forced into the position of prey by Zaroff; the second, it is Rainsford that hunts Zaroff. The inversion of roles continues until the end of the story, at which point Rainsford metaphorically takes on the role of Zaroff by sleeping in his bed. Rainsford has ultimately been transformed by Zaroff's game.
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37. Part 1 Summary
38. The story opens with a conversation between two men—Whitney and Rainsford. They are traveling on a boat and discussing an infamous island that should be somewhere nearby, Ship-Trap Island. Whitney explains to Rainsford that the island is known as a place of dread. Rainsford tries to find the island through the thick, leafy jungle but is unable to spot it. Whitney remarks on the depth of darkness in the region of the Caribbean that they are sailing through. Whitney reveals that the ship is headed to Rio de Janiero in Brazil, and should arrive in a few days.
39. The two men then launch into a discussion of jaguar hunting in the Amazon. Rainsford remarks that hunting is the best sport in the world. Whitney modifies Rainsford’s statement by pointing out that the sport is only fun for the hunter. Rainsford pushes aside his commentary as foolishness for he feels that animals have no understanding of the hunt. Whitney points out that even if they can’t understand complex things, they still understand and experience fear. Rainsford, once again, casts aside his statement as nonsense. Rainsford tells Whitney that the heat has made him emotionally soft. The reality of the world, as Rainsford sees it, is that there are two groups—the hunted and the hunters.
40. Rainsford and Whitney then return to the subject of the island. Rainsford inquires more about the rumors surrounding the mysterious island. Whitney explains that the island simply radiates evil—even the captain and the crew of the boat were on edge as the boat approached the island.
41. The captain had told Whitney that he felt a profound sense of dread on passing through the waters that surrounded the island. Rainsford thinks that the captain is simply being overdramatic. Whitney surmises that perhaps this is the case of one sailor’s scary tale rubbing off on the whole crew. He explains to Rainsford that even though that might be the case, there is still something to be said for the ability of evil to be perceived, especially by those who face danger constantly. At the end of the conversation, Whitney decides to retire to his quarters.
42. Rainsford decides to stay above deck to smoke a pipe. He sits in the silent, dark night and looks out over the water. Suddenly, a sound startles him—the sound of a gun being fired. He quickly walks to the edge of the railing to try to get a better look at his surroundings. He is unable to see anything through the murky darkness. Rainsford accidentally knocks his pipe out of his mouth during his attempts to get a better view. In his attempt to catch it, he loses his balance and falls into the water.
43. The current makes it impossible for Rainsford to swim back to the yacht. As salt water entered Rainsford's mouth, he begins to panic. He watches helplessly as the yacht sails away, leaving him alone in the dark water. Remembering the sound of the shots, he begins swimming in the direction of their origin. While trying to swim in that direction, he hears an animal cry out in anguish. Rainsford can’t identify the animal that made the sound.
44. As he continues to swim toward the sound, more gunfire fills the air. After ten minutes of struggling through the water, Rainsford eventually reaches the shore. He painfully drags himself out of the water with the little energy he has left. Once he reaches the safety of solid ground, he collapses into a deep sleep.
45. Analysis
46. The opening of the story introduces the reader to some important themes. First, Rainsford and Whitney’s conversations about the pleasure of hunting highlights the plight of the animal. Rainsford is a skeptic and thinks that animals do not experience many feelings or thoughts. He clearly establishes a hierarchy between man and beast. It is this relationship, between the hunter and the hunted, that is revisited numerous times throughout the work.
47. A second theme that is introduced during this part of the story is the nature of evil. Again, Rainsford and Whitney converse briefly about this when discussing the notorious Ship-Trap Island. Both of these themes foreshadow the experiences that Rainsford later has on the island. Their discussion early in the text helps prepare the reader for the transformative incidents to follow.
48. The imagery presented in this segment sets a dark, somber, mysterious mood to the story. The physical darkness mirrors the lack of knowledge that the two men have about the nearby island. The sounds presented also add to the mystique of the storyline. The gunshots that Rainsford hears while smoking his pipe on the deck are indicative of danger.
49. Rainsford’s fall from the boat is symbolic of a crossing into a no-man’s land. He falls into inky black water, unable to reconnect with the small bit of civilization that floats away down the river. The change in setting—from boat to island—is depicted behind a dark curtain for both the reader and Rainsford.
50. Hunting is the central theme of the story, and it also sets the story in motion. Rainsford falls into the water as a result of the sound of gunfire. He ends up on the island because he follows those sounds. His love of hunting, which he is forced to reconsider as the story progresses, is what leads him into this precarious situation.
51. Part II
52. Summary
53. When Rainsford wakes it is late afternoon. Energized by his rest, he begins to search for the source of the pistol shots. Rainsford is perplexed by the fact that anyone would even be on the island, as it is such a remote place. He begins to explore the island by walking along the shoreline.
54. It isn’t long before he finds evidence of an animal disturbance. He surmises from crushed plants and a spent cartridge that the animal that was shot down must have been quite large. It is also clear to him from the number of shots that the animal had resisted its ultimate demise. He finds footprints, and follows the trail, eager to find their source before nightfall.
55. In the midst of the darkness Rainsford spots lights. At first he thinks that he must have found a village because there were so many lights. As he approaches he realizes that he has, in actuality, stumbled upon a large building. The chateau is located on the edge of a cliff. So unexpected was the sight before him that Rainsford actually thinks he is seeing a mirage.
56. Rainsford walks up to the front door and knocks. Rainsford finds himself face to face with an enormous, black-bearded man. The man had a revolver at his side, pointed at Rainsford’s chest. Rainsford tries to explain that he had fallen of a yacht and was no threat. He tells the ominous man that he is from New York City, a visitor in this part of the world. The man does not react to Rainsford’s words. Confused by the lack of response, Rainsford repeats himself once again. Suddenly, the man’s arm goes up in a military salute. Another man was approaching from inside the house.
57. The second man politely introduces himself to Rainsford and appears to already know who he was. The man was familiar with one of Rainsford’s hunting books about snow leopards in Tibet. He then introduces himself as General Zaroff. Rainsford finds Zaroff to be charming. Zaroff is a tall man with white hair, black eyebrows, a black moustache, and black eyes. Using a sign, the general instructs his assistant, the large man with the revolver, to put his gun away. He then apologetically explains that his assistant, Ivan, is deaf and dumb. Rainsford inquires as toward Ivan’s heritage. Zaroff explains that both he and Ivan are Cossacks. He then invites Rainsford into the house.
58. Rainsford is led to a lavish room by Ivan. A suit from a fine London tailor is provided for him to wear to dinner. At dinner, he finds a magnificent room full of signs of wealth. In addition, there are numerous heads mounted on the wall.
59. Zaroff offers Rainsford a cocktail, inviting him to sit at the table. While eating borscht and other delicacies, the two men converse. Zaroff asks Rainsford if he thinks that the champagne had been tainted by the trip across the ocean. Rainsford says no, all the while admiring the generosity of his host.
60. Analysis
61. Rainsford demonstrates his prowess as a hunter by following the trail left by the animal he had heard the night prior. It is important to note that his pursuit of the trail is driven by his love of the sport. His passion is what ultimately comes into question through his encounters with Zaroff. In this portion of the story, Rainsford is clearly playing the role of the hunter. He is in pursuit of both knowledge and downed prey.
62. The revelations that Rainsford are about to receive are symbolized by his trek from the darkness of the forest to the bright lights of Zaroff’s mansion. Much to his surprise, however, he is greeted by the barrel of a gun at the door of the bright house. Suddenly, Rainsford is thrust into the position of the cornered prey. His attempts at connecting on the level of civilization are in vain as the man at the door, Ivan, is not able to speak or hear.
63. When Zaroff walks in, another slew of contradictions is presented. Zaroff represents the crème-de-la-crème of society. He is well-read, finely dressed, and socially graceful. Zaroff parallels the finery of his house, whereas Ivan is more closely associated with the jungle that abuts the aforementioned house. In addition, Zaroff presents his own set of contradictions that are foreshadowed by the symbolic contrasting colors of his hair, his demeanor, and his ethnic heritage. These first hints of conflict are further fleshed out as the story progresses.
64. Rainsford is quickly shuttled to a room worthy of a king. The transition from man-overboard, lost in a jungle to esteemed guest is so seamless that Rainsford doesn’t realize that something is off until much later. The fine champagne and exquisitely tailored suits help Rainsford feel at home in a place that is clearly not in a hospitable, well-known locale.
65. In sum, this portion of the text sets the stage for the pivotal plot point that is to come. The seemingly illogical turn of events raises a series of questions that are later answered in the most unexpected of ways. In other words, this passage serves an important role in building the suspense by creating a highly unpredictable situation.
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67. Part III
68. Summary
69. Zaroff explains to Rainsford that he is familiar with his work because he reads everything on the subject of hunting. Rainsford compliments Zaroff on his collection of heads, indicating that the Cape buffalo is the largest he’s ever seen. Zaroff explains that the buffalo charged him, causing him to fracture his skull. Rainsford remarks that he thinks that the Cape buffalo is the most dangerous game of all. With a curious smile, Zaroff replies that he is wrong: the Cape buffalo is not the most dangerous.
70. Zaroff then explains that he, in fact, hunts a type of animal that is more dangerous. Rainsford is intrigued. He questions Zaroff about the animal, wanting to know how it got to the island. Rainsford guesses that Zaroff has imported tigers. Zaroff admits that the hunting of tigers ceased to interest him long ago.
71. Zaroff pulls out a cigarette and tells Rainsford that he should hunt with Zaroff. Rainsford is still perplexed by the type of game that Zaroff hunts. Zaroff, clearly amused by Rainsford’s curiosity, explains that Zaroff will be impressed by his new invention. Before revealing the particularities of his hunting practices, Zaroff begins to tell the tale of how he came to hunt on the island.
72. He tells Rainsford that he believes that he was made to hunt, much like other men are called to their respective vocations. Zaroff’s father was very wealthy, allowing him financial freedom after the fall of the Czar in Russia. Unlike many of his Cossack compatriots, Zaroff was not forced into menial labor abroad. He was able to secure his money through investments, allowing him the opportunity to pursue his biggest passion—hunting. As Zaroff explains, his entire life has been one long hunt.
73. After Zaroff’s departure from Russia, he moved around in search of thrilling prey. Eventually, he was bored by the animals that were available for hunt in various parts of the world. Nothing could satisfy his desire for a stimulating hunt. As he had no desire to live with such dissatisfaction, Zaroff decided to do something. Zaroff asks Rainsford if he can guess why hunting had ceased to be stimulating for him. Zaroff brags that no animal was smart enough for him—he had become completely bored with the sport.
74. As he continues to explicate, Rainsford leans across the table, eager to hear the solution that the general had come up with. Zaroff reveals that he had to invent a new animal to hunt. Rainsford finds this difficult to believe. Zaroff assures him that he is telling the truth. Zaroff pushes the conversation along by asking Rainsford what the three most important qualities of an ideal prey. He continues on by saying that the animal must have courage, cunning, and the ability to reason. Rainsford is confused because, as he tells Zaroff, no animal can reason. Zaroff points out that there is in fact one animal that can reason.
75. Rainsford finally grasps the meaning behind Zaroff’s cryptic statements: Zaroff hunts men. He can’t bring himself to believe that this could be true, but Zaroff assures him that he is not lying. Rainsford simply cannot comprehend how a man so civilized could take part in such a barbaric practice. Zaroff explains that he views his sport similarly to war. Rainsford is disgusted by this comparison because he feels that what Zaroff does is more akin to murder. Zaroff finds Rainsford’s reaction amusing and incredibly naïve. Zaroff encourages him to try the hunt but Rainsford declines.
76. Analysis
77. In this portion of the text, Rainsford and Zaroff begin to discuss hunting in a more detailed manner. Their in-depth conversation slowly builds to one of the climaxes of the story. Zaroff’s obsession with hunting is further elucidated as is his frustration with the lack of challenge in the hunting of large game.
78. The time frame of the story is revealed through the mention of the expulsion of Cossacks after the fall of the Czar. One can estimate that the story is taking place sometime in the 1920s. In addition, some stereotypes regarding the Cossacks are presented by Zaroff’s narration of the history of the group.
79. Zaroff explicitly cites the chief motivation behind hunting on the secluded island as a growing boredom with the large game present in the rest of the world. This statement perplexes Rainsford who has hunted some of the most dangerous game himself. Rainsford’s quest for the meaning behind Zaroff’s words is a form of an intellectual hunt, one which yields a shocking prey.
80. The tension of the storyline is highest in this passage where the central revelation is finally made, after a series of hints. It is here that the true duplicity of Zaroff’s character is visible to the reader. The highly polished ambiance of the conversation is negated by the extremely barbaric nature of Zaroff’s sport. Even more disturbing is Zaroff’s inability to recognize that his pastime is inhumane.
81. Rainsford is perplexed by the split in Zaroff’s psyche. On the one hand, the man has proven to be the most gracious of hosts. Yet, at the same time, he is admitting to what Rainsford equates to murder. The lack of sympathy that Zaroff shows for his victims is astonishing to Zaroff. Even more disturbing to Rainsford is Zaroff’s desire to bring him into the game.
82. Part IV
83. Summary
84. Zaroff then proceeds to try to convince Rainsford that what he does is not problematic. As he explains it, his sport only mimics the natural divide between the strong and the weak that is found in nature. In addition, Zaroff explains that he hunts what he believes are the scum of the earth. Rainsford doesn’t believe that this is a valid point because they are still men, regardless of what they have done.
85. Rainsford inquires as toward the origin of Zaroff’s prey. Zaroff reveals that he has set up a trap on the island. There are lights that indicate a channel but there is actually none. Many ships end up wrecking on the rocks near the island. Zaroff collects the men, feeds them, and sends them to his training school for preparation. He then releases them one by one into the jungle under the guise of joining him on a hunt. Zaroff gives the men a head start and then pursues them during the cover of night. The rules of Zaroff’s game are simple—if the prey is able to elude Zaroff for three days, then he has won.
86. Rainsford does not understand why anyone would willingly participate in such a sport. He asks Zaroff what happens if someone chooses not to partake in the game. Zaroff says that his quarry has two options—they either join the hunt or suffer at the hands ofIvan. Zaroff reveals that he has yet to lose a game, although one man did come close to victory. Zaroff leads Rainsford through the mansion to see his pack of dogs that frequently assist him on his hunts. Zaroff invites Rainsford to the library to view the latest collection of heads. Rainsford excuses himself, citing exhaustion. Zaroff allows him to retire to his chambers to rest all the while lamenting the fact that Rainsford will not be able to join him on the hunt. Rainsford is unable to sleep. He rises to look out of the window and gazes at the dogs below. He feels enveloped by the darkness of night.
87. The next day Rainsford is reunited with Zaroff at lunchtime. Zaroff explains that he had a rather unsatisfying hunt: he was bored. Rainsford reveals that he wants to leave immediately. Zaroff is slightly perplexed by this request. He tells Rainsford that this is unfortunate as he has not had the chance to hunt. Ignoring Rainsford’s desires, Zaroff exclaims that they shall both hunt that night. Rainsford rejects the offer but Zaroff quickly reminds him that he can either participate or be subject to Ivan’s fists. As Rainsford sits incredulously at the table, Zaroff continues to remark on what a great hunt it shall be. Finally, Zaroff has found an adversary that he deems worthy of his talents. Rainsford interrupts Zaroff by asking him what happens if he manages to beat him. Zaroff promises him, upon Rainsford’s win, to transport him to a nearby town. Reading Rainsford’s mind, Zaroff adds that he is a man of his word. Zaroff remarks t hat Rainsford must never speak to anyone about what happens on the island if he manages to win. Rainsford does not agree to this request.
88. Zaroff explains that Ivan will provide him with hunting clothes, food, and a knife. He suggests that Rainsford wear moccasins as they leave a very faint mark in the earth. In addition, he advises to avoid the swamp because there is quicksand there. Apparently, one of Zaroff’s previous prey had attempted to hide in the swamp and had succumbed to the quicksand along with one of Zaroff’s best hunting dogs. After relaying this advice, Zaroff excuses himself from the table for a siesta. He encourages Rainsford to get an early start out.
89. Ivan enters the room after Zaroff’s departure and hands Rainsford his hunting materials. Rainsford sets off into the jungle surrounding Zaroff’s house. For two hours he makes his way through the thick trees in a panic. He finally realizes that he has to get a grip on his emotions in order to succeed at the task at hand. Rainford realized that running around aimlessly was not going to help his plight. Instead, he decides to leave a trail consisting of loops and spins. Afterwards, he climbs a large tree to make himself comfortable for the night. Rainsford is confident than Zaroff will be unable to follow him to his current position. Despite his attempts at self assurance, Rainsford is unable to sleep that night.
90. At dawn, a squawking bird gets Rainsford’s attention. Something or someone was approaching through the bushes. To Rainsford’s surprise, it is General Zaroff. Zaroff pauses beneath the tree where Rainsford is propped. Rainsford has the inclination to jump on him from above, but he decides against it because Zaroff is carrying a pistol. Zaroff looks puzzled as his eyes search the area. Slowly, his eyes creep up the tree. They stopp just short of the branch where Rainsford lays. A smile spreads over the general's face and, casually, he walks away.
91. Analysis
92. This portion of the text fleshes out some of the philosophical and moral questions behind the sport of hunting. In the first part of the story, Rainsford makes it very clear that he does not believe animals have any understanding of the logistics of hunting or of fear. Here, Zaroff builds on this discussion by providing his interpretation of the deeper meaning of hunting. For Zaroff, it is a metaphor for life. Moreover, Zaroff feels that the hunting of men is valid in his particular case because he only uses what he refers to as the scum of the earth.
93. Zaroff recruits most of his men from a trap that he has set in the waters surrounding the island. He feels that this is a valid method of “recruitment” because after he’s caught the men he allows them to train. They are well taken care of while training at Zaroff’s mansion. Zaroff presents a bit of an oxymoron in his treatment of the men. On the one hand, he feels that they should be treated as men in that they should be allowed a fair chance at learning how to hunt, be given sufficient food, etc. However, he also mercilessly forces them into participating in the hunt, ignoring the fact that the men would never choose to join the game.
94. Rainsford finds himself wrapped up in Zaroff’s game when he is invited to join him on a hunt. He declines and is told the next day that he will be Zaroff’s most worthy adversary. The terms are simple—if Rainsford wins by deluding Zaroff for three days, he is free to go. Rainsford has no choice but to participate. That afternoon, as Rainsford heads off, the enormity of the situation finally strikes. Rainsford loses control of his emotions as he aimlessly runs around the island with fear.
95. Rainsford’s first inclination is to escape. Ironically, he has been chosen for the game because of his prowess as a hunter. However, because he has never had to be in the position of the prey, he struggles with the role at first. If anything, Rainsford acts more like a terrified animal than a rational man during the first segment of the hunt.
96. As soon as Rainsford is able to control his primal sense of fear, he begins to rationalize and view the situation as a hunter. He ultimately decides that hiding in the trees after leaving a convoluted trail would be his best bet. Unfortunately, the next morning Zaroff is able to follow his trail. The fact that Zaroff was able to accomplish a task that Rainsford thought impossible presents Zaroff as a far superior adversary than Rainsford imagined possible.
97. Part V
98. Summary
99. After Zaroff’s departure, Rainsford lets out a stifled breath in relief. Confused by Zaroff’s behavior, he begins to ponder the meaning of his actions. A frightening thought occurs to him—perhaps Zaroff was playing with him. The thought of being saved for another day’s hunt fills him with terror. After gathering his nerves, he slides down from the tree. Rainsford immediately begins working on a trap.
100. Zaroff returns and almost falls prey to the well-constructed trap. However, as Zaroff sensed danger at the very last moment, the trap only managed to hit his shoulder. Zaroff calls out to the open, saying that he was impressed by Rainsford’s Malay man catcher. Promising a return, Zaroff heads out into the darkness.
101. Rainsford runs desperately. Without realizing it, he had run into the swamp. One of his feet sinks into the murky quicksand but he manages to wrangle it loose before it was too late. Inspiration comes to Rainsford and he begins to dig. After digging a hole of sufficient height, Rainsford begins whittling away at branches to make stakes. Using various types of foliage, he constructs a covering for the hole. Satisfied with his handiwork, Rainsford ducks behind a tree and waits.
102. Zaroff approaches with unusual speed. Suddenly, Rainsford hears a crack and a scream. Rainsford darts out from behind the tree only to be disappointed by the sight of Zaroff standing in front of the pit. It turns out that one of Zaroff’s dogs had fallen into Rainsford’s trap. Impressed by his construction, Zaroff retreats to the house once again.
103. The next morning, Rainsford is awakened by a harrowing sound. The pack of dogs is coming his way. He knows he had two options—either he could stay where he was or he could run. An idea occurred to him—and he begins to run away from the swamp. Upon climbing a tree, Rainsford is able to sight Zaroff, Ivan, and the pack of dogs. Using a trick he learned in Uganda, Rainsford fastens a knife to the end of a young sapling. Orienting the tree toward the path of his pursuers, he takes off. After a few minutes, he climbs a tree to see if his trap had worked. His heart sinks when he sees that Zaroff is still standing. Ivan, on the other hand, had succumbed to the knife.
104. Frustrated, Rainsford picks up his run once again. After spotting a blue patch between some trees, he decides to run in that direction. When he arrives at the source he realizes that he is facing the sea. He can hear the hounds fast approaching. Without a second thought, he leaps into the ocean.
105. When Zaroff arrives at the edge of the cliff, he stops to regard the waters below. Disappointed, he shrugs his shoulders, takes a puff of a cigarette, and drinks a sip of brandy. He then heads home. That night he eats a good dinner, all the while lamenting the death of his faithful servant Ivan. After drinking a nightcap, he heads towards his bedroom. Immediately after switching on the light a man appears from behind the bed’s curtains. It is Rainsford. Zaroff congratulates Rainsford on his win. Rainsford tells Zaroff that the game is not over yet. Zaroff agrees—whoever wins the last battle would sleep in his bed, the loser be fed to the dogs. The story ends with Rainsford remarking on the quality of the bed he slept in that night.
106. Analysis
107. The encounter with Zaroff filled Rainsford with a terror that he had never known. It was this overpowering emotion that drove Rainsford into a heightened state of awareness. Finally realizing that the only way to beat Zaroff at his game was to be the smarter hunter, Rainsford changed his approach. Rainsford begins to hunt Zaroff with the same amount of passion as Zaroff is hunting him.
108. This new approach to the game reflects the big-game hunting that Rainsford and Zaroff both love so much. Many of the animals that they have pursued in the past were hunters themselves. Rainsford, much like big-game, is at a disadvantage because he has no gun. Instead, he has to make use of the natural surroundings to set traps for Zaroff, Ivan, and the pack of hunting dogs. Rainsford’s use of natural resources further conjures the imagery of hunting that Zaroff previously presented: a game that reflects the true order of nature.
109. The death of Ivan is symbolic of Rainsford’s improvement over the course of the hunt. During his first few attempts at building traps, he manages to mildly damage Zaroff’s shoulder and kill one of the hunting dogs. With each trap, his accuracy improves. Ivan’s death at the hands of Rainsford’s knife is both frustrating and exciting. Obviously, Ivan was not the target that Rainsford had intended to kill. On the other hand, however, he has managed to remove one of the major facilitators of the implementation of the game on the island. In a manner of speaking, Rainsford is slowly destroying the pieces that allow the game to be played.
110. Rainsford is pushed to the boundaries of the island by Zaroff’s final approach. Faced with certain death at the hands of Zaroff or the unknown future of the sea, he chooses to jump over the edge into the water. Zaroff, upon approaching the edge of the cliff, assumes that Rainsford has committed suicide. It is in this moment that Zaroff makes his fatal mistake. He fails to see the possibility of Rainsford’s survival. Due to this oversight on his part, Rainsford is able to outsmart him.
111. The last scene of the story can be read in several ways. The first, most literal interpretation involves Rainsford winning a night in Zaroff’s bed after defeating him. But a more metaphorical meaning can also be extracted from the text. In this case, Rainsford’s use of Zaroff’s bed could stand for his adoption of Zaroff’s role. He has been fundamentally changed by Zaroff’s game. Rainsford now understands what it means to be the hunted and to be a hunter of men.
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