Conflict In The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

The story “The Most Dangerous Game” takes place around the time of the Russian Revolution on an island on the Caribbean called “Shipwreck Island”. In his short story Richard Connell introduces two characters, General Zaroff, a narcissistic and affluent man who after many years of hunting has experience ennui when hunting animal and now hunts humans, and Rainsford another experienced hunter who by accident lands on Zaroff's island and must now outsmart Zaroff through conflict to survive. The author uses the conflict to build suspense mostly because the reader is unable to predict what will happen because of Zaroff’s unpredictable nature. In the beginning the author uses conflict to show suspense by demonstrating the skill of Rainsford and the determination of General Zaroff to find his quarry. In this first quote Rainsford shows his skills by trying to mask his tracks but if baffled when Zaroff outsmarts him and finds his hiding spot. “Rainsford held his breath. The general’s eyes had left the ground and were traveling inch by inch up the tree. Rainsford froze there, every muscle tensed for a spring. Buy the sharp eyes of the hunter stopped before they reached the limb where Rainsford lay; a smile spread over his brown face. Very deliberately he blew a smoke ring into the air; then he turned his back on the tree and walked carelessly away, back along the trial he had come. (15)” In this quote Rainsford is hiding in the tree after trying to make a confusing path for Zaroff to follow and learns the …show more content…
Richard Connell uses the unpredictable and zealous behavior of General Zaroff and pits it against the intelligence and smart behavior of Rainsford. Richard Connell uses suspect to attract the attention of the reader and encourage them to read further. But the author also includes the quotes to satisfy the curiosity of the