The author satirizes society’s notions of what makes a person civilized through Zaroff’s comparing his prison to a school. This comparison illustrates the absurdity of Zaroff's claim to civility, as he presents the act of hunting humans as a refined and sophisticated endeavor, contrasting the brutality of his actions with the idea of being "civilized." This contradiction highlights the irony in Zaroff's character and critiques the warped sense of civilization that can exist in society.
The general chuckled. "They indicate a channel," he said, "where there's none: giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide-open jaws. They can crush a ship as easily as I crush this nut." He dropped a walnut on the hardwood floor and brought his heel grinding down on it. "Oh, yes," he said, casually, as if in answer to a question. "I have electricity. We try to be civilized here.""Civilized? And you shoot down men?"A trace of anger was in the general's black eyes, but it was there for but a second, and he said, in his most pleasant manner: "Dear me, what a righteous young man you are! I assure you I do not do the thing you suggest. That would be barbarous. I treat these visitors with every consideration. They get plenty of good food and exercise. They get into splendid physical condition. You shall see for yourself tomorrow.""What do you mean?""We'll visit my training school," smiled the general. "It's in the cellar. I have about a dozen pupils down there now. They're from the Spanish bark Sanlûcar that had the bad luck to go on the rocks cut there. A very inferior lot, regret to say. Poor specimens and more accustomed to the deck than to the jungle."QuestionUse the paragraphs to answer the question.How does the author use satire to develop meaning in these paragraphs?(1 point)ResponsesThe author uses the narrator’s descriptions of both men during the conversation to satirize the idea that hunting is a game.The author uses the narrator’s descriptions of both men during the conversation to satirize the idea that hunting is a game.The author uses Zaroff’s description of the Spanish sailors to satirize overly simplistic stereotypes.The author uses Zaroff’s description of the Spanish sailors to satirize overly simplistic stereotypes.The author uses Rainsford’s questions to satirize ideas about what constitutes polite society.The author uses Rainsford’s questions to satirize ideas about what constitutes polite society.The author satirizes society’s notions of what makes a person civilized through Zaroff’s comparing his prison to a school.
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