Discussion Topic
Zaroff's Intelligence and Sophistication in "The Most Dangerous Game"
Summary:
In "The Most Dangerous Game," General Zaroff's arrogance and intelligence are intricately portrayed. His arrogance stems from his belief in his superiority over others, viewing humans as mere prey for his hunting pleasure. This hubris is evident in his interactions with Rainsford, whom he underestimates despite recognizing him as a worthy opponent. Zaroff's intelligence and sophistication are highlighted through his cultivated demeanor, aristocratic appearance, and strategic thinking, as seen in his calculated investments and innovative hunting game.
How does Zaroff display arrogance in "The Most Dangerous Game"?
Zaroff is arrogant because he literally sees himself as superior to other human beings—to the point where he does not view killing them for sport as morally wrong. He sees other human beings as prey and himself as the hunter.
Zaroff's arrogance likely stems from his origins as a Cossack. There is a classicist element to his killings. He mentions mainly going after sailors who were wrecked on his island, but even these people are no longer a worthy enough challenge. Interestingly, he hunts human beings because they are more intelligent than animals and therefore more interesting to stalk for sport, yet even mere humans are no longer enough.
This is why he relishes the chance to hunt Rainsford . Rainsford is also a hunter and therefore the closest thing Zaroff has to an equal. However, he cannot possibly view Rainsford as a true equal—since he sees him as an...
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animal to hunt. He also figures he will win their little game and so does not mind tipping the scales a little in Rainsford's own favor, putting off his actual killing of Rainsford for as long as he can. After all, he does what he does for the thrill of the chase. This proves to be his downfall.
General Zaroff is arrogant enough to believe that he will defeat Rainsford by killing him during the most dangerous game. On the first night, the general follows Rainsford's difficult path through the forest and ends up locating him early in the morning while Rainsford is still sleeping in a tree. When Rainsford awakens on a branch, he looks down and sees General Zaroff in close proximity examining his tracks. Instead of looking up and shooting Rainsford, General Zaroff smiles and walks away. Evidently, General Zaroff is confident that he will defeat Rainsford and wishes to have two more days of hunting him. After Rainsford survives for three days on the island and wins the game, the general agrees to fight him in a one-on-one battle to the death. Once again, Zaroff is overconfident and believes that he can defeat Rainsford. Rainsford not only avoids the general for three days but also kills him during their duel at the end of the short story.
How does "The Most Dangerous Game" portray Zaroff as smart?
Zaroff appears to be smart at Connell's first introduction of him. He arrives on scene in evening clothes with hand ready to shake. These two descriptors are evidence of a man who has confidence and who has experienced success.
We also see this in the words of the text wherein Zaroff first speaks:
In a cultivated voice marked by a slight accent that gave it added precision and deliberateness, he said, "It is a very great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Sanger Rainsford, the celebrated hunter, to my home."
Zaroff obviously in his voice had a pitch, tone, vocabulary, and knowledge of content that demonstrated his intellect at his first word in this piece. This could be called indirect characterization because the author doesn't call Zaroff smart or brilliant, he shows it.
How does the reader learn that Zaroff is intelligent and sophisticated in "The Most Dangerous Game"?
In Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game," while Rainsford converses with General Zaroff, he notices that the general has "the face of an aristocrat" and "a cultivated voice." At the dinner table, the general takes from his pocket a gold cigarette case and offers his guest a long black cigarette with a silver tip, perfumed and with the scent of incense. Then, the general describes his "rare thing" of creatinag a "new sensation": his dangerous game.
With accuracy and great detail, the general describes his life, saying that as an officer of the Czar he had to leave Russia as other "noble Russians" had done. Rather than having lost everything as others had, Zaroff intelligently made heavy investments in American securities, so he is comfortable.
Further, he explains to Rainsford that he realized that hunting was beginning to bore him, so he knew that he
"must do something. Now, mine is an anlytical mind, Mr. Rainsford. Doubtless that is shy I enjoy the problems of the chase."
Even when confronted with Rainsford at the end, Zaroff plays the gentleman:
"I congratulate you....You have won the game."