The most dangerous game

Hunter or Hunted?

In his story, "The Most Dangerous Game," Richard Connell breaks down the stereotypes between man and beast. Throughout the novel he poses reason against instinct. Despite the seeming disparity between these two approaches to the world, Connell does not ultimately privilege rational thought. Rather, he shows that it is not rationality alone but man's dual nature that allows him to survive. In the story, it is oonly by embracing both elements that a man can be successful.

The opening scene sets up the dichotomy between rational thought and instinct that Connell seeks to counter. At first, Rainsford expresses a stereotypical affinity to the superiority of the rational mind. As a way of justifying his haunting of animals, Rainsford exclaims, "They have no understanding" (8). To invalidate the sailors' instinctual fear of General Zaroff's island, he says it is "pure imagination" and "superstition" (9). All of his statements discount irrational thought. Rainsford sees lack of reason, fancy, and unfounded belief as inferior. However, throughout the course of Connell's story, Rainsford not only displays these animal characteristics, but also relies heavily upon them for his survival.

Despite his seeming disapproval of instinctual interaction with the world, throughout the story Rainsford both relies on instinct and Connell likens him frequently to animals. Alone on the deck of the yacht, Rainsford's instincts dominate his experiences. His hearing is heightened. The reader is told how he, a man, has senses that are inscrutable: "his ears, expert in such matters" (9). Unlike humans, who experience the world primarily through sight, Rainsford's hearing is his dominant sense. Like an animal too, Rainsford is described as having agility and excellent balance: "He leaped upon the rail and balanced himself there" (9).

Throughout the story Rainsford relies, like an animal, on his instincts and senses to help him survive. Finding himself in immediate danger of dying after falling off the yacht, Rainsford relies on intuition to survive. He knows he must shed his clothes to stay afloat. Hiding from the general, Rainsford is warned of danger by the actions of other animals: "the cry of some startled bird" draws his attention (20). Before he even sees that it is the general approaching, Rainsford instinctually "flattened himself down on the limb" (20). Later on, elated by the possibility that the general fell victim to one of his traps, Rainsford "felt and impulse to cry aloud with joy" and "leaped up from his place of concealment"; his emotions drive his actions (22). Though the General Zaroff is sophisticated and a "thoughtful and affable host," Rainsford is leery of him. Instinct and not rational thought makes him uneasy (13). During dinner, Rainsford feels the general "studying him, appraising him narrowly" (13). Though he has no foundation for suspicion -- the general is kind and convivial -- Rainsford is instinctually uneasy. Both before and after his landing on Zaroff's island, Rainsford, despite his avowals to the contrary, displays beast-like qualities.

It is not mere instinct, however, that allows Rainsford to survive in Connells' story. He must rely on his mind as well. Throughout the text, Rainsford uses rationality to direct his course of action. Knowing that "there was a chance that his cries could be heard by some one on board the yacht, but that chance was slender," Rainsford decides to cease his yelling and decides to look for another possibilty (10). He uses his ability to reason to weigh the probability of his being heard and rescued by his shipmates. After realizing the low chance of success in that direction, Rainsford "remembers" that he heard pistol shots off to his right. Again, he relies on his mind: his memory. He knows that "where there are pistol shots, there are men" and "where there are men, there is food" (10). Basing his actions on the progression of rational thought and cognitive associations -- men = food -- Rainsford ceases his shouting and swims toward the island.