The Most Dangerous Game Group
Question:
straitballin
Student
High School - 9th Grade
What motivated General Zaroff to hunt men and what made him continue doing it after he knew he was doing wrong?
Please help! =)
Answers:
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cybil Teacher
High School - 12th GradePosted by cybil on Saturday December 22, 2007 at 10:31 PMGeneral Zaroff had grown bored with hunting because animals as prey no longer challenged his skills. He tells Rainsford that he "lives to hunt" so he decided he needed a new prey. Man has one ability that animals do not--the ability to reason--and that quality makes man a more exciting prey.
When Rainsford understands this "most dangerous game" of Zaroff's, he is horrified and asks how the general can commit murder. Zaroff replies, "Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift?" This Cossack has no sense of morality, only a desire to please himself. Furthermore, he can do what he wants because his island is isolated, and no one ever escapes. Ironically, of course, he becomes taken by the strong when Rainsford defeats him in Zaroff's bedroom, an event the general had never anticipated.
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brendawm Teacher
High School - 9th GradePosted by brendawm on Sunday December 23, 2007 at 6:47 AMSimply put, General Zaroff became motivated to hunt men because he found hunting animals to be of no challenge to him anymore. He desired more of a challenge, and to achieve the challenge he desired, he required a more intelligent "prey." To him the only prey that equaled his skill as a hunter and provided him with the challenge he desired was man--the ultimate prey. Rainsford, and, indeed, most human prey, presented him with more of a challenge because they possessed the ability to outwit, out think, and out maneuver him during the hunt; therefore offering him the ultimate hunting experience. As to the question of why didn't Zaroff stop once he realized he was doing wrong, I don't believe that he ever came to that realization. Upon looking carefully at Zaroff's character, you see a completely self absorbed individual, concerned only with the fulfillment of his own wants and needs, no matter the cost to anyone else. Did he know what he was doing was wrong? Obviously he did, otherwise he would not have gone to such pains to hide himself away on his island away from prying eyes. Did he care? Obviously not because, once again, his own needs took precedent over even human life. Hope this helps.
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soya Teacher
Posted by soya on Thursday January 31, 2008 at 8:33 PMGeneral Zaroff loses interest in hunting animals because they are no longer an adequate challenge. The biggest dilemma for General Zaroff is that he doesn't think it is wrong to hunt humans. He has had experience as a soldier under a brutal regime. One could say it is only natural for him to take this leap. Zaroff believe the world has only one rule "survival if the fittest." Those who have the power will make it.