Sanger Rainsford In The Most Dangerous Game

Sanger Rainsford is a dynamic character, and the protagonist of Richard Connell’s short story “The Most Dangerous Game.” (rpt. In Thomas R. Arp, Perrine’s Literature, Sound, and Sense, 12th ed. [Bostson: Wadsworth, 2015] 487-501). Rainsford is a celebrated American big game hunter, and he has written several books on the sport of hunting. The most famous book he wrote is about hunting snow leopards in Tibet. He falls overboard on a trip to Rio De Janeiro, and ends up on Ship-Trap island. It is there that becomes the prey of General Zaroff. In addition to being a hunter, he is also a World War I veteran. Throughout the story, Rainsford shows characteristics of being a realist, being resourceful, and being a dynamic character.

Rainsford shows

characteristics of being a realist at the beginning of the story. During his conversation at the beginning he says, “You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher” (). Later in the conversation he also says, “Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters” (). According to Rainsford, philosophers have sympathy for other beings, and realists know that humans are superior to animals and that animals have no feelings. When he criticizes Whitney for being too sympathetic, he is saying that Whitney is over evaluating what animals may or may not feel.
Rainford displays a great deal of bravery and resourcefulness. When Rainsford is being hunted down in the jungle is when his resourcefulness and bravery shines. He pulls everything out of his hunter’s arsenal, booby trapping and creating false leads all over the place.