Question

In 300 words or less, explore how the external events of the plot of "The Most Dangerous Game" affect an internal change within Sanger Rainsford.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

In "The Most Dangerous Game", a short story by Richard Connell,  the main character, Sanger Rainsford, undergoes an internal change due to external events. Rainsford is a famous skilled hunter. His view on the world, and especially of the hunt, is quite set in an advantageous manner, but only for himself. To Rainsford, there is no reason to empathize with the animals he kills. The world is divided into hunters and huntees, and he sees himself as lucky for belonging to the former instead of the latter.

Ironically, this luck of his will change dramatically because of another hunter who shares that perspective and opinion. General Zaroff, also talented and skilled, is a hunter of men. He grew tired of chasing beasts that are incapable of reasoning. In search of a better challenge, Zaroff began to prey on his fellow human beings. Rainsford accidentally lands on Zaroff's island and becomes the general's next game.

Rainsford is now just like one of the animals he once hunted, and this conflict is bound to change him internally. He can finally empathize with the fear and despair the animals felt while trying to escape him. Rainsford is given nothing but a knife, clothes, and some food. Zaroff, on the other hand, has a gun and hound dogs. Rainsford has to rely on his basic survival instincts to outsmart the general.

We must note, however, that Rainsford is a human being. He is capable of reasoning, and is more than skilled and smart enough to find a way to beat Zaroff. But, until that happens, he goes through the agony of having to run for his life, to hide in fear. The external event of being hunted certainly changes Rainsford into a man capable of empathizing.