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The Most Dangerous Game

by Richard Edward Connell

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Comparison of Rainsford and Zaroff in "The Most Dangerous Game"

Summary:

In Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game," Rainsford and Zaroff are both skilled and passionate hunters, sharing a hierarchical worldview that distinguishes between hunters and the hunted. However, they differ significantly in their morality. Rainsford sees hunting humans as murder, while Zaroff, bored with traditional game, finds excitement in hunting people. This difference highlights Zaroff's psychopathy and Rainsford's adherence to societal norms. Despite their shared expertise, Rainsford's experience as prey leads to a transformation, challenging his initial perspective on hunting.

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How are Rainsford and Zaroff alike and different in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

Rainsford and Zaroff both enjoy hunting and are good at it, but Zaroff is bored with hunting animals.

Rainsford is a skilled hunter.  He is so experienced and well-respected, in fact, that he has written many books on the subject.  However, he still seems to enjoy hunting animals and find a challenge in it.  Zaroff, on the other hand, believes that he has no challenge left in animals.  He has moved on to try to find animals who can outsmart him—human prey.

Rainsford believes that animals cannot think.  He has a conversation about this at the beginning of the story.  However, it is clear from this conversation with Whitney that Rainsford still gets pleasure from hunting regular animals.

"We should make it in a few days. I hope the jaguar guns have come from Purdey's. We should have some good hunting up the Amazon. Great sport, hunting."

"The best sport in the world," agreed Rainsford.

"For the hunter," amended Whitney. "Not for the jaguar."

Rainsford does not care how the animals feel, but he does still seem to enjoy hunting something as simple as a jaguar.  Even though he is talented enough to have written books on hunting, he can still take pleasure in the hunt.  Zaroff, on the other hand, apparently has decided that hunting an animal is beneath him.

When Zaroff explains why he “invented” a new quarry for hunting (humans), he tells Rainsford over and over again that he is one of the best hunters in the world and he simply could not stand to be bored.  He tells Rainsford that he would simply “go to pieces” if he did not do something.

"[Hunting] had ceased to be what you call `a sporting proposition.' It had become too easy. I always got my quarry. Always. There is no greater bore than perfection."

Zaroff’s plan was to get an island and populate it with human prey.  Away from the prying eyes of civilization, he could pretty much do what he wished.  Hunting was now much more interesting.  Of course Rainsford is the most dangerous game of all.  He is a trained hunter.  Zaroff knew he would have a lot of fun chasing him and trying to hunt him down.

Rainsford is completely opposed to the hunting of humans.  When Zaroff tries to suggest that because he has been a solider he will be okay with killing people for sport, he puts him in his place.

I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life. Surely your experiences in the war--"

"Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder," finished Rainsford stiffly.

Of course Rainsford will not play the game, and hunt humans alongside Zaroff.  The general is completely okay with that.  He would much rather hunt Rainsford anyway, because, as I said, Rainsford is an excellent hunter and will make more challenging prey for Zaroff.  To Zaroff, it is all about making the game more challenging.

Rainsford is an above-average hunter but a typical human being.  He considers animals killable and balks at killing people.  Zaroff, on the other hand, follows his own moral code.  He is completely narcissistic.  If it pleases him, it is moral.  He considers himself superior to others because he survives.  In his world, it is kill or be kill.  If you survive, you are worthy.  If you don’t, you are not.  In the end, though, it is Rainsford who survives.

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How are Rainsford and Zaroff alike and different in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

General Zaroff is the more experienced and technically sound hunter. However, his extremism pushes him over the edge, and his overconfidence is his downfall. Rainsford takes advantage of this to win out in the end, but he decides to give up on hunting after experiencing what it is like to be the prey. 

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How do Zaroff's and Rainsford's perspectives on hunting differ in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

Both General Zaroff and Rainsford are sportsmen who have an affinity for hunting wild game. They are both accomplished hunters and enjoy tracking down exotic, dangerous, difficult animals to hunt. Initially, Rainsford and Zaroff share similar perspectives on hunting. At the beginning of the short story, Rainsford tells Whitney,

The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees (Connell 1).

Later on, Zaroff shares his similar opinion of hunting by telling Rainsford,

Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if need be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure" (Connell 8).

While both Zaroff and Rainsford initially have similar philosophies regarding hunting, they have drastically different opinions concerning the value of human life. General Zaroff turns out to be a maniacal fanatic who takes pleasure in hunting humans trapped on his island. While General Zaroff refers to humans as the "most dangerous game," Rainsford views him as an insane murderer. The tension between Zaroff and Rainsford's perspectives on human life and hunting contributes to the moral message of the story, which examines the nature of fanaticism, the sport of hunting, and the value of human life. By the end of the story, Rainsford gains perspective on what it is like to be the prey and develops sympathy for the animals he once hunted.

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What common traits and differences do Rainsford and General Zaroff share?

One trait Rainsford and General Zaroff have in common in the short story is their passion for hunting and their extensive knowledge in hunting. They both have traveled around the world hunting the most desired and exotic game and both have been doing it for a long time. Rainsford even wrote a book on hunting. Another trait they possessed in common, in the beginning of the short story, was their callousness toward hunting. They both regarded prey animals as having no feelings or emotions when it came to the hunt. They felt nothing for the animals they hunted.

An obvious difference the two characters possess is their level of sanity. They differ in the lengths at which they will go to achieve the thrill of the hunt. Rainsford is content to hunt animals, while General Zaroff has grown bored with it. He has rationalized in his mind that it is okay to hunt humans. He has no boundaries when it comes to hunting, whereas Rainsford still does.

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What's the difference between Zaroff and Rainsford in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

General Zaroff and Rainsford are both avid hunters, but they differ in one vital principle: the value of human life. When Rainsford falls off of a yacht and ends up on Zaroff’s island, Zaroff is at first charming, hospitable, and charismatic. He soon reveals, however, that he has developed a new form of game for his sport: humans. The following exchange between the two men demonstrates the difference between them:

"Hunting? Great Guns, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder."

The general laughed with entire good nature. He regarded Rainsford quizzically. "I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life. Surely your experiences in the war--"

"Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder," finished Rainsford stiffly.

Rainsford learns that Zaroff has no regard for human life, a line he draws very clearly in his moral compass. At the start of the story, Rainsford expresses similar views in relation to hunting jaguars, claiming that they have no “understanding.” In his eyes, however, this does not apply to humans. Zaroff views things differently; his morality is skewed so that he does not view hunting humans as murder. The act to him is not inhumane. In fact, it is almost as if the general has no humanity at all. When he is hunting Rainsford on his island, the man notices the general’s “dead black eyes.” He is cold, almost unemotional in his beliefs, and seeking only the thrill of the hunt.

When he loses his right hand man in his “game” with Rainsford, the loss is only a “slight annoyance” to the general. He has no regard for any life, not even his own. This is seen at the end, when Rainsford surprises the general in his bedroom, prepared to kill him. Zaroff’s only response to his imminent demise is the joy of a good hunt. He congratulates Rainsford and accepts his defeat.

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What are the similarities between General Zaroff and Sanger Rainsford in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

While not apparent at first, there are many similarities to the basic natures of Sanger Rainsford and General Zaroff. Among the salient qualities that are similar, there are the following:

  • Both are expert hunters. They are knowledgeable of weapons, traps, and techniques in hunting.
  • Both enjoy being hunters, not the ones hunted. Zaroff says, "My whole life has been one prolonged hunt." Rainsford expresses to Whitney that he and Whitney are "luckily...hunters." He is not concerned about the feelings of his prey.
  • Both are men of courage and cunning. Because of his courage and cunning, Zaroff has chosen to hunt "the most dangerous game" because hunting "had ceased to be what you call 'a sporting proposition. It had become too easy."
  • Both are survivalists. Rainsford knows how to hide, set traps, and outthink his enemy. For instance, Rainsford dives into the sea, but returns to the chateau where he duels Zaroff and kills him.
  • Both are predatory. Zaroff has no qualms against killing men, and Rainsford is exigent and will shoot anyone or anything in his way to safety as long as his life is in danger. In the end, Rainsford kills Zaroff, refuting the protests his gives to Zaroff about hunting the most dangerous game at his first dinner.

   "Even so, I rather think they understand one thing--fear. The fear of pain and the fear of death."
   "Nonsense," laughed Rainsford. "This hot weather is making you soft, Whitney. Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters. Do you think we've passed that island yet?"
   "I can't tell in the dark. I hope so."

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Discuss the character traits of Rainsford and General Zaroff in "The Most Dangerous Game."

Rainsford is a man secure in his veneer of civilization, though there are chips in this veneer as seen by his initial conversation with Whitney in which he is unable to sympathize with the plight of the jaguar as prey.  He is offended when Zaroff offers to include him as a hunter in his "Game."  However, it doesn't take too much experience as prey for Rainsford to discard civilization in favor of savagery.  He murders Zaroff and Ivan in the end.  Zaroff, on the other hand, is a man who is comfortable in his savagery.  He is surprised that Rainsford could have gone through a World War and still have any regard for human life.  He believes that he is vindicated in his hunting because he only hunts the "dregs of society"--sailors and such.  Thus we can say that Rainsford is a dynamic character--he changes from civilized to savage.  He is also a round character, he has a multifaceted personality.  Zaroff, on the other hand, has only one dominant character trait--savagery.  Thus he is a flat character.  He also does not change his viewpoint over the course of the story so he is static (unchanging) as well.

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Discuss the character traits of Rainsford and General Zaroff in "The Most Dangerous Game."

It is clear from his first entrance that Zaroff is an elegant, refined man. He is described as "an erect, slender man in evening clothes" who speaks in a "cultivated voice marked by a slight accent" and in a manner that gives his speech "added precision and deliberateness." At first, General Zaroff therefore appears to be quite the gentleman, entertaining Rainsford in his "palatial chateau" and swapping hunting stories, but of course, he shows his "darker" side when he reveals his latest "game" of choice - humans.

It is this chillingly evil side that comes to dominate the story, as we realise he has fashioned Ship-Trap Island to do exactly as its name suggests. He places false lights to tempt ships in to a false channel where the unfortunate ships will be crushed by "giant rocks with razor edges" which "crouch like a sea monster with wide-open jaws."

Interestingly, once the "game" has begun, Zaroff plays with Rainsford, letting him go three times, before the finale. From Zaroff's perspective, the "strong" are able to use the "weak" for their own pleasure and enjoyment. His justification of the "game" is interesting to observe:

"Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and if need be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong please. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not?"

Power and skill, according to Zaroff, obviously give him the right to hunt as he wishes. What is interesting about this story is how the description of him as an urbane, civilised and intelligent man stands in brutal contrast to Zaroff's propensity to kill and murder.

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Discuss the character traits of Rainsford and General Zaroff in "The Most Dangerous Game."

Author Richard Connell strongly develops both of his main characters in "The Most Dangerous Game." General Zaroff is drawn in more depth, mostly through the direct characterization presented through his own narrative about his past history during his dinner discussion with Rainsford. Zaroff tells Rainsford his whole life's history over cocktails: We find that Zaroff is the son of a wealthy landowner in the Crimea; that he was a cavalryman in the service of the Czar; that he had been hunting avidly since he was a child; and that he was forced to flee Russian following the revolution. The narrator describes Zaroff's physical characteristics, and Rainsford imbellishes them through his own descriptions.

Rainsford's first impression was that the man was singularly handsome; his second was that there was an original, almost bizarre quality about the general's face. He was a tall man past middle age, for his hair was a vivid white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as black as the night from which Rainsford had come. His eyes, too, were black and very bright. He had high cheekbones, a sharpcut nose, a spare, dark face--the face of a man used to giving orders, the face of an aristocrat. 

Rainsford is developed more through indirect characterization; the reader learns about his inner strength and physical prowess through his own thoughts and actions. Zaroff also gives us information about Rainsford: We discover that he has written a book on hunting and that he lives in New York. But Rainsford is more fully developed during the hunt--both psychologically and physically.

He had not been entirely clearheaded when the chateau gates snapped shut behind him. His whole idea at first was to put distance between himself and General Zaroff; and, to this end, he had plunged along, spurred on by the sharp rowers of something very like panic. Now he had got a grip on himself, had stopped, and was taking stock of himself and the situation. He saw that straight flight was futile; inevitably it would bring him face to face with the sea. He was in a picture with a frame of water, and his operations, clearly, must take place within that frame.

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Discuss the character traits of Rainsford and General Zaroff in "The Most Dangerous Game."

The characterization of Rainsford, in Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game," is one which allow readers to see the stereotypical "man's man." Connell does a wonderful job providing both direct (blatantly describing) and indirect (based on the assumptions of the reader) characterizations of Rainsford.

Rainsford's agility can be inferred when he hears the gun shots echoing through the foggy night.

Rainsford sprang up and moved quickly to the rail, mystified. He strained his eyes in the direction from which the reports had come, but it was like trying to see through a blanket. He leaped upon the rail and balanced himself there.

It is through this description that a reader can assume (therefore indirect characterization) that Rainsford is agile and athletic.

Other descriptions of Rainsford are far more openly defined. When Rainsford is contemplating the gun shots, once on land, his intelligence is obvious.

"A twenty-two," he remarked. "That's odd. It must have been a fairly large animal too. The hunter had his nerve with him to tackle it with a light gun. It's clear that the brute put up a fight. I suppose the first three shots I heard was when the hunter flushed his quarry and wounded it. The last shot was when he trailed it here and finished it."

It is here that the reader comes to understand Rainsford's knowledge of hunting.

Over the course of the story, one cannot question Rainsford's quick wit, advanced intelligence, and physical stamina.

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In "The Most Dangerous Game," how do scruples show differences in Rainsford and Zaroff's personalities?

Scruples could be defined as misgivings about something one feels is wrong. When Rainsford calls General Zaroff a murderer, the general counters by saying, 

"Dear me," said the general, quite unruffled, "again that unpleasant word. But I think I can show you that your scruples are quite ill founded."

Rainsford, of course, has misgivings over Zaroff's mode of hunting on the island. Instead of hunting animals, the general hunts men and that is precisely what Rainsford objects to. He thinks of Zaroff as an unscrupulous murderer and cannot abide the inhumane activity the general is engaged in. The general tries to explain his reasoning for hunting men, which revolves around his immense arrogance and bigotry. He says, 

"Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if need 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? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth—sailors from tramp ships—lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels—a thoroughbred horse is worth more than the lot of them."

Rainsford sees it as nothing less than barbaric and when the general offers to hunt with Rainsford, the American refuses, showing his scruples. He knows it is wrong to hunt men, regardless of the general's twisted logic. Of course, Rainsford does become involved in the hunt as the general actually hunts him in the second half of the story. 

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In "The Most Dangerous Game," who is more developed, General Zaroff or Rainsford?

One could argue that Rainsford is more characterized throughout the short story "The Most Dangerous Game." Connell utilizes third person limited narration to characterize Rainsford by describing his inner feelings and emotions. Rainsford is also portrayed as a dynamic character as he goes from being a callous, unsympathetic hunter, to a person who fully understands what it is like to be hunted.

Rainsford's inner thoughts are described as Connell illustrates his panic after falling off the yacht and his sense of comfort when he initially sits down to dinner at Zaroff's chateau. Rainford's sense of anxiety and fear is also portrayed as he attempts to avoid Zaroff throughout Ship-Trap Island. Rainsford's sense of danger and primal instincts are also revealed when he surprises the general in his own room at the end of the novel.

The third person limited narration allows Connell to focus on Rainsford's personal thoughts and emotions while he objectively describes General Zaroff's behaviors and comments. Essentially, Rainsford is more characterized than General Zaroff because the reader never has perspective on the general's inner thoughts and emotions like they do for Rainsford.

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In "The Most Dangerous Game," who is more developed, General Zaroff or Rainsford?

The characterization we receive most is that of Rainsford.  This is for a few reasons:

1) We see him before, during, and after his run-in with Zaroff, whereas we only learn about Zaroff during his interactions with Rainsford.

2)  We are given a description of Zaroff from Rainsford's point of view, showing us not only how Zaroff looks and acts, but also Rainsford's interpretation of his look and mannerisms.

3) We are given a view into the mind of Rainsford, not Zaroff, several times: on the boat, when he arrives on the island, when he meets with Zaroff, and all throughout the hunt we learn how he is thinking his way through the jungle and away from Zaroff.

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What are Rainsford's first impressions of General Zaroff in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

Sanger Rainsford, the protagonist of Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game," finds himself upon the island home of General Zaroff after falling off of the ship he was on. Upon knocking upon Zaroff's door, Ivan (Zaroff's servant) "welcomes" Rainsford with pistol to his face. Soon after, Zaroff welcomes Rainsford, addressing him as "the celebrated hunter." 

The first thing which Rainsford notices about Zaroff is his physical attractiveness; his first impressions being that Zaroff was "singularly handsome." Immediately after, Rainsford sees something "bizarre" about the general's face. Even more bizarre than Zaroff's face is his preferred prey (as he is a hunter like Rainsford). General Zaroff prefers to hunt humans because they are the only animal which has the ability to reason. 

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How are Rainsford and General Zaroff alike and different in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

Both men are avid hunters.  Both enjoy a challenge.  And by the end of the story, both men are killers.  All along, Zaroff has been hunting down men and killing them.  In the very end, Rainsford ends up killing Zaroff.  He is hiding in Zaroff's room, and the last line reads "He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided."  So he survived and ended up killing Zaroff.  Both men are also very cunning.  Zaroff is able to lure men into his "shiptrap island" by making them feel safe with the false lighthouse light.  Rainsford is clever when setting traps for Zaroff.  He is even able to survive his jump into the sea.  He cleverly makes his way to Zaroff's bedroom to catch him by surprise.

Their differences are incorporated into their similarities.  They are both avid hunters, but Rainsford would never take hunting that far.  He is appalled that Zaroff would do such a thing.  He is shocked when he makes that realization. Zaroff is actually proud of himself for coming up with such an idea. 

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What are the similarities and differences between Zaroff and Rainsford in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

When dining with Zaroff on the night that Ivan finds him and brings him to the mansion of the general, the reader notes a distinct difference in the point of view expressed by the two hunters:  Zaroff states that, bored with hunting, he needed a new animal, one that can reason. Understanding the implication of what Zaroff has said, Rainsford, appalled, replies, "Hunting, ...what you speak of is murder...[I do] not condone cold-blooded murder...I'm a hunter, not a murderer."  The irony, of course, is that at the end of the story, Rainsford does, indeed, become a murderer, too.

Another irony is that Rainsford does not really know himself, for in the exposition he tells his shipmate, "The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees."  This statement foreshadows the self-prophesy of Rainsford's predatory self when placed in a life-threatening situation. In the end of the story, he has accepted that he is a predator.  In fact, he relishes his role:  "He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided."

What Zaroff has already known and accepted about himself, Rainsford has to discover when he becomes "an animal at bay."  In essence, the two mean are alike, both predatory, but Rainsford does not realize this similarity until the end.

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How is Rainsford proving to be interesting prey for General Zaroff?

General Zaroff is used to dealing with human prey who are not experienced in outdoor survival. In Rainsford he is challenged by having an opponent who is a world-famous hunter like himself. Rainsford is determined to put up a good fight, even though Zaroff has many advantages, including deadly weapons. First Rainsford fashions a deadfall with a decaying tree. When Zaroff passes under it he comes close to getting killed. This only seems to amuse him. He enjoys having a worthy opponent. He likes the excitement of the chase better because he is after truly "dangerous game." Then Rainsford constructs a pit covered with branches and leaves with upright sharpened stakes at the bottom. Zaroff barely avoids falling into it. In spite of the danger, he admires Rainsford's handiwork and congratulates him. A short story is interesting when the protagonist and antagonist are evenly matched. The fact that Rainsford wins the deadly "game" in the end proves that they were evenly matched in spite of Zaroff's apparent advantage.

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Compare and contrast General Zaroff and Rainsford in "The Most Dangerous Game".

Rainsford and Zaroff can arguably be considered parallel characters in that both are hunters, both are intelligent, strategic in their hunt, and well-versed in hunting. These points are made evident in that rains ford strategically creates complicated hunting traps, thus injuring Zaroff and even killing his dog and his servant Ivan, as well as evident in Zaroff in that he recognizes each trap, avoids each to save himself, and even is able to find Rainsford quickly on the first day of the hunt but chooses to let him go with the intent of prolonging the fight. The differences come into play in terms of their morality; whereas Rainsford sees Zaroff's game as murder, Zaroff simply sees it as a challenge in which the strong must overtake the weak. Additionally, the two are foils in that Rainsford is a dynamic character while Zaroff is static. This last point is evident when considering that Rainsford's early comment stating "who cares what a jaguar feels?" shows his lack of concern for his prey, yet his opinion changes when he himself becomes the metaphoric jaguar, hence, Zaroff's prey. Zaroff's opinions, however, do not change nor evolve.
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How do Zaroff and Rainsford differentiate between hunting and murder in The Most Dangerous Game?

(I have edited your query since only one question per eNotes post is allowed.)

To Rainsford, this question is quite simple. He is a hunter, not a murderer. Although he has killed men during World War I, Rainsford differentiates between battle conditions and the cold-blooded killing of human prey. Rainsford considers Zaroff's new game uncivilized and "a grisly joke." Zaroff, on the other hand, sees the killing of his human prey as a contest between the strong and the weak.

"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? If I wish to hunt, why should I not?

Zaroff considers the sailors he shipwrecks as the

"scum of the earth... lassars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels--a thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them."

Zaroff views Rainsford's "puritan" values as romantic--a remnant of the Victorian era. To him, killing a man during the hunt is merely a game in which both sides have a chance to win--though Zaroff decidely stacks the deck in his favor. By the end of the story, it is unclear whether Rainsford has changed his mind about the barbarity of the act or whether his actions only become that of revenge. Zaroff has not changed, however. He addresses Rainsford with a bow and exclaims "Splendid!", knowing full well he will now become the beast at bay.

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Compare and contrast Zaroff and Rainsford in "The Most Dangerous Game."

The two men come from very different backgrounds.  Rainsford is "an American hunter of world renown" who has written a book about hunting snow leopards in Tibet.  He, like Zaroff, has both a very refined nature and an avid interest in hunting.

Zaroff, in contrast, is a Cossack, who claims to have been a high-ranking officer for the former Tsar of Russia.  He lives in a "palatial chateau" like royalty, and is distinguished by a "cultivated voice", "fine clothes", and the "singularly handsome features of an aristocrat". 

Zaroff has a grisly obsession for hunting human beings.  He delights in capturing stranded sailors and forcing them to play his game as the hunted; Zaroff sees the killing of human beings as being a "very modern, even civilized" sport.  Rainsford, in contrast, is appalled at Zaroff's lack of morality, and considers him to be little more than a murderer.   The difference between the two men is called into question, however, when Rainsford outwits Zaroff at his own game, and refuses to end the game when victory is assured - even though it is not necessary, Rainsford kills Zaroff, and usurps his place in his palace.  The story raises the question as to whether, despite their different professions about the killing game, Rainsford in the final analysis harbors the same ruthless evil in his character as his opponent.

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Compare and contrast Zaroff and Rainsford in "The Most Dangerous Game."

Rainsford is a famous American hunter and author of books about hunting. Zaroff also shares the love of hunting, but he has allowed his to turn into a savage, brutal hunt of human beings. Both men also like the finer things of life--nice rooms, fine wine, etc. Zaroff speaks very well, showing that he's educated and refined, but this outward persona belies his savagery underneath. Rainsford is horrifed when he first learns of what Zaroff is doing and realizes that hunting humans is just a game for Zaroff. At the end, Rainsford goes back to kill Zaroff, and we are left wondering whether Rainsford has enjoyed the hunt between Zaroff and himself so much that maybe Rainsford may take Zaroff's place.

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