The Most Dangerous Game: What is the mental state of General Zaroff?
General Zaroff is the main antagonist of the story The Most Dangerous Game. He's got it all but he still wants more.
Many people have theories on what mental diseases General Zaroff has. Most of the research I have pulled up has shown he must have a mental condition called Schizophrenia. In this essay, I will explain why I agree with them.
Schizophrenia is a wide-ranging (and often misdiagnosed) mental illness. Symptoms include: hallucination, delusions, emotional flatness, and catatonia. It is one of the most common mental disorders diagnosed among criminals, especially serial killers. Studies of people with schizophrenia have shown there are small differences in the way …show more content…
Research suggests schizophrenia may be caused by a change in the level of two neurotransmitters: dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals are good in small amounts, but can sometimes lead to addiction. Some studies indicate an imbalance between the two may be the basis of the problem. Others have found a change in the body's tolerance to the neurotransmitters is part of the cause of. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry messages between brain cells. In TMDG when Rainsford is talking with General Zaroff, the general says we “...we can discuss it over a bottle of Veuve Cliquot…” Pg. 11. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is a French Champagne house. The story also mentions that the general gives Rainsford a glass of Chablis. Chablis is a type of wine. The story also says that General Zaroff, “took from his pocket a gold cigarette case” Pg. 10. Cigarettes are known to give off dopamine and serotonin imbalance causing a shock to the brain. General Zaroff was been drunk often. This could have added to why he has no remorse for human life. He probably wasn’t in his right mind. And there's no one to stop him from drinking because kills most of the people on the …show more content…
The general mentioned that “...the hunt no longer satisfied...” him. Pg. 12. What he meant was that after all the hunting and all the dangerous positions he had put himself in he no longer felt that exhilarating feeling you get when you're in extreme danger. He was numb to it. It no longer gave him the thrill he enjoyed. this also could have added to schizophrenia. Just like drugs, the shock you get from them can also be obtained from overcoming life threatening circumstances. Humans gave him that thrill again because they were intelligent and unpredictable. So just like any drug addict, he went to the next high.
Throughout all his dialogue in the story and all that we know about him. He may have acknowledged Ivan's death, but he was completely apathetic towards it. As previously stated schizophrenia causes emotional flatness. In other words, he shows the wrong emotions at the wrong time or sometimes none at
General Zaroff is the main antagonist of the story The Most Dangerous Game. He's got it all but he still wants more.
Many people have theories on what mental diseases General Zaroff has. Most of the research I have pulled up has shown he must have a mental condition called Schizophrenia. In this essay, I will explain why I agree with them.
Schizophrenia is a wide-ranging (and often misdiagnosed) mental illness. Symptoms include: hallucination, delusions, emotional flatness, and catatonia. It is one of the most common mental disorders diagnosed among criminals, especially serial killers. Studies of people with schizophrenia have shown there are small differences in the way …show more content…
Research suggests schizophrenia may be caused by a change in the level of two neurotransmitters: dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals are good in small amounts, but can sometimes lead to addiction. Some studies indicate an imbalance between the two may be the basis of the problem. Others have found a change in the body's tolerance to the neurotransmitters is part of the cause of. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry messages between brain cells. In TMDG when Rainsford is talking with General Zaroff, the general says we “...we can discuss it over a bottle of Veuve Cliquot…” Pg. 11. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is a French Champagne house. The story also mentions that the general gives Rainsford a glass of Chablis. Chablis is a type of wine. The story also says that General Zaroff, “took from his pocket a gold cigarette case” Pg. 10. Cigarettes are known to give off dopamine and serotonin imbalance causing a shock to the brain. General Zaroff was been drunk often. This could have added to why he has no remorse for human life. He probably wasn’t in his right mind. And there's no one to stop him from drinking because kills most of the people on the …show more content…
The general mentioned that “...the hunt no longer satisfied...” him. Pg. 12. What he meant was that after all the hunting and all the dangerous positions he had put himself in he no longer felt that exhilarating feeling you get when you're in extreme danger. He was numb to it. It no longer gave him the thrill he enjoyed. this also could have added to schizophrenia. Just like drugs, the shock you get from them can also be obtained from overcoming life threatening circumstances. Humans gave him that thrill again because they were intelligent and unpredictable. So just like any drug addict, he went to the next high.
Throughout all his dialogue in the story and all that we know about him. He may have acknowledged Ivan's death, but he was completely apathetic towards it. As previously stated schizophrenia causes emotional flatness. In other words, he shows the wrong emotions at the wrong time or sometimes none at