Survival In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

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The word survival connotes a life versus death issue, but when considering situations of survival a person must remember “We each survive in our own way” (Maas 21). According to Google, the definition of survival is “the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances,” which opens up the interpretation to extend beyond living and include emotional, mental or social survival (1). While some people argue that a person in a situation of survival should be held accountable for their actions, it is unethical to not take into consideration the circumstances of an incident. A person seeking simplicity can argue that one person killing another is as simple as black and white, and …show more content…
The general who is a hunting prodigy is starting to get bored with hunting and now challenges Rainsford to a three day hunt where Rainsford will be the game. After the final day of the hunt, Rainsford sneaks up on General Zaroff and kills him saying “‘I am still a beast at bay’” (14). Rainsford is in a unique situation because even though he falls off of the ship on his own, he is manipulated on to the island and is being forced to do the hunt. Even though he wins, Rainsford knows that General Zaroff is unpredictable and can’t be trusted not to kill him later or want to play again. The killing of General Zaroff can be dismissed as self-defense, which according to Google is “the defense of one's person or interests, especially through the use of physical force, which is permitted in certain cases as an answer to a charge of violent crime” (1). Killing someone or something isn’t simple enough to summarize to murder all the time. Under certain circumstances a person can excuse someone killing another person because it is necessary for one’s own survival. Under certain circumstances, one shouldn’t blame someone else for their actions because their decisions could ultimately save their lives and ensure their

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