The Predator In The Most Dangerous Game, By Richard Connel

It is not wise for a predator to underestimate its prey. In “The Most Dangerous Game,” written by Richard Connel, General Zaroff has become disinterested in hunting simple animals; he needs the challenge of hunting an animal that can reason. Mr. Rainsford is the next item on General Zaroff’s menu. The only way to get out is by beating Zaroff at his own game. A game of hunting that means life and death. Zaroff is the hunter and Rainsford is the hunted. In, “The Smuggler,” written by Victor Canning, Tasso, like Rainsford, is being contested by a predator. He is known as the Great Man. The Great Man is interrogating Tasso for smuggling. Tasso must be clever at how he responds and how he displays himself, for his life is in danger. The antagonists

In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford finds Zaroff’s domicile after he gets stranded. Zaroff deludes Rainsford by playing the act of a hospitable character who offers food, clothing, and comfort. This role was one he played extremely well using his advanced intellect, obviously making Rainsford fall further into his trap. Zaroff opens his door to Rainsford and says,”It is a great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Sanger Rainsford, the celebrated hunter, to my home,”(14). It is later that Zaroff eases into telling Rainsford about his game. In, “The Smuggler,” Tasso shares just enough information to The Great Man so that he can make a case against the smuggler. He explained, “And yet you knew that our national football team had drawn with the English team? The game was played in London yesterday afternoon, after you left here… If you had been at sea twenty-four hours without a radio you could not have known the

The Great Man seems to be disliked by his people and is very probably why he asks for the smuggler’s help to escape his kingdom, if he ever decides he needs it. The Great Man says to Tasso at the end of the meeting,”’You have made a mistake, one mistake that could have meant death. It might happen to me one day. If it does, I shall have a friend on this island with a boat,”(7) His power is beneficial at the moment but is ultimately leading to his downfall. Tasso is an amiable man who knows many people. It would be unwise to harm him. The Great Man knows his place and where he must stand to get his victim where he wants. Zaroff has been clever in using his power, until Rainsford got the best of him. He sometimes uses it for his own enjoyment, such as letting Rainsford live, when he could have easily terminated him, just to continue watching him struggle. He has also used it all these years to uphold his position. He has never been stopped for his outrageous actions when he very likely was caught. He must know how to play it correctly or his fun would’ve ended years ago.

The Great Man and General Zaroff have many common traits. It has helped both handle their prey with great cleverness, yet the protagonists, Rainsford and Tasso have showed cleverness of a greater level. The similarities between the two antagonists of the two stories have similar traits that make them interesting characters and ultimately a