The Most Dangerous Game Conflict Analysis

Describe a major conflict; Analyze how the author uses conflict to develop a theme It is commonly believed that if you are in a position of power and authority you will always remain so. In his fictional short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell’s characters, Sanger Rainsford and General Zaroff, had the same opinion. Like many individuals, neither men ever expected to be placed in a position of weakness. The deadly conflict that led to both Rainsford and Zaroff hunting and being hunted developed the theme, “strength and power are temporary,” because two once powerful men suddenly fell. To begin with, the external conflict that occurred between him and Zaroff caused Rainsford to no longer be the hunter, but the hunted. While
Once Zaroff revealed what his “most dangerous game” was, he attempted to justify his murderous hobby by arguing that, “‘I am strong...If I wish to hunt why should I not,’”(10). Here, Zaroff is committing a standard mistake; he does something because he can, but morally should not. The only way he actually justifies his “game” is by saying that it is diverting and provides a challenge for him. The belief that he is all-powerful blinds him from the fact that since he has frequently perpetrated against innocent humans, he will have to pay for his actions. Furthermore, Zaroff concluded that Rainsford had perished, but he is later proven wrong. As an illustration, “A man, who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing there… ‘I congratulate you’... ‘You have won the game,’”(18). Connell uses this event to affirm that Zaroff had indeed been hunted all along. Although he did not realize it, Zaroff was gradually falling prey to Rainsford. The American was constantly outsmarting him and made numerous attempts on his life. Throughout the story Rainsford was gaining leverage; it is clear he won because Zaroff was cocky and ignorant of his surroundings. In Zaroff’s case, the very thing that made him powerful debilitated