The Most Dangerous Game General Zaroff Character Analysis

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“In the world of so-called villains, what we need is not another hero. What we need is to stop the influx of people who dress themselves as menaces and proceed to harm others” (Tugaleva, para 1). In the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game”, the antagonist, General Zaroff, paints a picture of villainy. The author, Richard Connell, illustrates the effects that a villain has on a story and how they affect other characters. Throughout the story, Connell uses the methods of characterization to reveal that villainy drives the plot through the development of his antagonist, General Zaroff, the cruel and narcissistic murderer.
In the beginning of the story, main character and protagonist, Rainsford, ends up on an island by the name of “Ship-Trap Island”. As the story progresses, the reader learns about General Zaroff, the cunning antagonist. Various traits can be identified in his character that lead the reader to foreshadow the dreadful events that later occur in this seemingly well-developed society. One character trait identified in Zaroff’s character consists of his cruel behavior and actions. For example, Zaroff states “where there’s none; giant rocks with …show more content…

Another character trait identified in the antagonist’s character would be narcissism. When analyzed, Zaroff is clearly narcissistic, along with other, in my opinion, negative qualities. An example can be recognized when Zaroff expresses his physical attributes: “Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and if need be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not?” (Connell 19). As it was stated before, this way of thinking causes the plot to, of course, revolve around

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