In the fictional short story, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, Rainsford has several conflicts with General Zaroff. The conflicts are both physical and mental. Not only does General Zaroff physically hunt Rainsford in the jungle, but Zaroff also argues that hunting humans for sport is not considered murder. These conflicts are used to build suspense throughout the story.
The most suspenseful parts of the story are when General Zaroff is hunting Rainsford in the jungle, and through this the author creates a feeling of apprehension in the reader. The audience first feels premonition when Rainsford is hiding in the tree on the first night of the hunt. Connell writes, “But the sharp eyes of the hunter stopped before they reached the …show more content…
The reader first feels worried when the general describes the ‘new animals’ he hunts. After Zaroff reveals his new animal to be a human, Rainsford immediately argues that what Zaroff is doing is cold-blooded murder. The general says, “‘It must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason… I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life.’” (9-10). Zaroff’s insanity makes the reader wonder what will happen to Rainsford, therefore conveying a feeling of apprehension to the audience. Another event in the story that creates suspense is when the General is further deepening his explanation of his ‘game.’ General Zaroff said, “‘It’s a game, you see...If my quarry eludes me for three whole days, he wins the game. If I find him’--the general smiled-- ‘he loses.’... The smile on the general’s face widened. ‘To date I have not lost,’ he said.” (11). General Zaroff’s words create suspense because he tells Rainsford that he is very skilled at hunting humans. This makes the audience feel perturbed for Rainsford because he is going up against a zealous, blood-thirsty hunter. The moral conflicts between Rainsford and General Zaroff are also very effective and help build suspense in the
The most suspenseful parts of the story are when General Zaroff is hunting Rainsford in the jungle, and through this the author creates a feeling of apprehension in the reader. The audience first feels premonition when Rainsford is hiding in the tree on the first night of the hunt. Connell writes, “But the sharp eyes of the hunter stopped before they reached the …show more content…
The reader first feels worried when the general describes the ‘new animals’ he hunts. After Zaroff reveals his new animal to be a human, Rainsford immediately argues that what Zaroff is doing is cold-blooded murder. The general says, “‘It must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason… I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life.’” (9-10). Zaroff’s insanity makes the reader wonder what will happen to Rainsford, therefore conveying a feeling of apprehension to the audience. Another event in the story that creates suspense is when the General is further deepening his explanation of his ‘game.’ General Zaroff said, “‘It’s a game, you see...If my quarry eludes me for three whole days, he wins the game. If I find him’--the general smiled-- ‘he loses.’... The smile on the general’s face widened. ‘To date I have not lost,’ he said.” (11). General Zaroff’s words create suspense because he tells Rainsford that he is very skilled at hunting humans. This makes the audience feel perturbed for Rainsford because he is going up against a zealous, blood-thirsty hunter. The moral conflicts between Rainsford and General Zaroff are also very effective and help build suspense in the