The Most Dangerous Game Group

Question:

galations
galations
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In the story "The Most Dangerous Game," why does Zaroff think of himself as "civilized"? In what ways is he uncivilized?

What does "civilized" mean?

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Posted by galations on Sunday October 18, 2009 at 7:01 PM and tagged with characters, civilized, the most dangerous game, zaroff.

Answers:


  1. pohnpei397 Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    General Zaroff thinks of himself as civilized for two reasons.  First, he has all the trappings of aristocracy -- nice clothes, a butler, a fine mansion with a hunting preserve.  Second, he sees hunting as a very civilized pursuit (as it is seen by, for example, English aristocrats).

    His lack of civilization is best evidenced by the very fact that he purposely causes shipwrecks in order that he can hunt and murder the people who wash up on his shore.

    What is civilization?  You can ask yourself which is more important -- having material goods that look civilized, or acting in some way that we see as moral.  Then you can ask yourself if anyone in this story really is moral and whether Rainsford is civilized or not.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/most-dangerous

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    Posted by pohnpei397 on Sunday October 18, 2009 at 7:09 PM