Character Analysis Of A Big Game

A renowned hunter and Cossack refugee who turned to hunting men after being unsatisfied by the challenge posed by the fiercest of animals. Zaroff is a man of contradictions, both highly refined in manners and deeply uncivilized in morals.

General Zaroff 's mute assistant. Provides much of the muscle needed to maintain Zaroff 's fantasy island by offering an alternative to the hunt: those chosen by Zaroff either participate in the hunt or face Ivan 's burly, violent hands.

The protagonist of the story, Rainsford is a well-known, highly experienced big-game hunter who has the great misfortune of being recruited as prey by General Zaroff. He is able to maintain his intellectual composure during the most frightening of circumstances. He uses this

His conversation with Whitney aboard the yacht reveals his feelings—or lack of them—about hunting big game:

Whitney: Great sport, hunting.

Rainsford: The best sport in the world.

Whitney: For the hunter, not the jaguar.

Rainsford: Don 't talk rot, Whitney. You 're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher. Who cares how a jaguar feels.

Whitney: Perhaps the jaguar does.

Rainsford: Bah! They’ve no understanding.

Whitney: Even so—I rather think they understand one thing—fear. The fear of pain and the fear of death

Rainsford: Nonsense. This hot weather is making you soft, Whitney. Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees.

After Rainsford falls overboard and swims to General Zaroff’s island, Zaroff exhibits the same kind of callousness toward his favorite prey. But in Zaroff 's case the prey is human. Shipwrecks that Zaroff causes provide him a constant supply of "game." Shocked, Rainsford expresses moral indignation at the general’s murderous pastime. Zaroff counters that Rainsford will change his mind when he participates in a hunt. But what Rainsford does not immediately realize is that he will be the