The Most Dangerous Game

Question

by Richard Connell

“General,” said Rainsford, firmly, “I wish to leave this island at once.”

The general raised his thickets of eyebrows; he seemed hurt. “But, my dear fellow,” the general protested, “you’ve only just come. You’ve had no hunting——”

“I wish to go to-day,” said Rainsford. He saw the dead black eyes of the general on him, studying him. General Zaroff’s face suddenly brightened.

He filled Rainsford’s glass with venerable Chablis from a dusty bottle.

“To-night,” said the general, “we will hunt—you and I.”

Rainsford shook his head. “No, General,” he said. “I will not hunt.”

The general shrugged his shoulders and delicately ate a hothouse grape. “As you wish, my friend,” he said. “The choice rests entirely with you. But may I not venture to suggest that you will find my idea of sport more diverting than Ivan’s?”

He nodded toward the corner to where the giant stood, scowling, his thick arms crossed on his hogshead of chest.

“You don’t mean——” cried Rainsford.

“My dear fellow,” said the general, “have I not told you I always mean what I say about hunting? This is really an inspiration. I drink to a foeman worthy of my steel—at last.”

The general raised his glass, but Rainsford sat staring at him.

“You’ll find this game worth playing,” the general said, enthusiastically. “Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and stamina against mine. Outdoor chess! And the stake is not without value, eh?”

“And if I win——” began Rainsford, huskily.

“I’ll cheerfully acknowledge myself defeated if I do not find you by midnight of the third day,” said General Zaroff. “My sloop will place you on the mainland near a town.”

The general read what Rainsford was thinking.

“Oh, you can trust me,” said the Cossack. “I will give you my word as a gentleman and a sportsman. Of course, you, in turn, must agree to say nothing of your visit here.”

“I’ll agree to nothing of the kind,” said Rainsford.

“Oh,” said the general, “in that case—— But why discuss that now? Three days hence we can discuss it over a bottle of Veuve Cliquot, unless——”

The general sipped his wine.

Then a businesslike air animated him. “Ivan,” he said to Rainsford, “will supply you with hunting clothes, food, a knife. I suggest you wear moccasins; they leave a poorer trail. I suggest, too, that you avoid the big swamp in the southeast corner of the island. We call it Death Swamp. There’s quicksand there. One foolish fellow tried it. The deplorable part of it was that Lazarus followed him. You can imagine my feelings, Mr. Rainsford. I loved Lazarus; he was the finest hound in my pack. Well, I must beg you to excuse me now. I always take a siesta after lunch. You’ll hardly have time for a nap, I fear. You’ll want to start, no doubt. I shall not follow till dusk. Hunting at night is so much more exciting than by day, don’t you think? Au revoir, Mr. Rainsford, au revoir.”

General Zaroff, with a deep, courtly bow, strolled from the room.

Answer 1

In "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell, the tension between Rainsford and General Zaroff escalates as they discuss the nature of hunting. Rainsford, a skilled hunter himself, finds himself in a terrifying predicament as Zaroff proposes a lethal game of cat and mouse—where Rainsford becomes the hunted. The dialogue reveals the differences in their perspectives on hunting, with Zaroff viewing it as a sport without bounds, while Rainsford grapples with the morality of becoming prey.

Zaroff’s charm and civility mask his sadistic nature, and Rainsford’s growing unease highlights the perilous situation he confronts. The general’s invitation to hunt emphasizes the deadly stakes of their competition, as well as the manipulation inherent in Zaroff’s demeanor. The references to hunting gear and strategies serve to further illustrate the ingrained conflict between the two characters.

As Rainsford prepares to face an adversary who is not only cunning but has a twisted view of honor and sport, the theme of civilization versus savagery becomes palpable. Through their exchange, Connell expertly builds suspense, setting the stage for a harrowing battle of wits in a primal and isolated environment. The setting of the island, coupled with Zaroff's character, raises questions about the nature of humanity and the instinct to survive, ultimately leading Rainsford to confront his own beliefs about hunting and life itself.