Later in the story, Rainsford becomes the hunted for the pleasure and thrill of General Zaroff. Rainsford is force to kill Zaroff in self-defense. The contrast between killing prey for the sport of it and killing for the purpose of self-defense poses the question of is Rainsford's killing of Zaroff a justifiable reason for murder. Essay outline:

1. Introduction: Can murder be justified?

2. Does tradition justify the stoning in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"?

a) The community

The community's interaction prior to the lottery

The community's interaction after the Hutchinson family is selected

The community's interaction with Tessie Hutchinson is selected

b) Is the tradition still relevant?

The traditions of...

Is hunting, no matter what the prey, justifiable?
a) Is hunting acceptable when the prey is an animal, such as Rainsford and Whitney's hunting of jaguar?

The thrill of the hunt

The long standing tradition of hunting

The social standing of the hunter

b) Is hunting wrong when the prey is another human?

Zaroff's hunt of Rainsford

4. Is self-defense a justifiable reason for murder?

Tessies's pleas for her life

The cape buffalo's attact on Zaroff

Rainsford killing of Zaroff

5. Conclusion -- what position did each author have on murder and its' justification?