Monday, September 23, 2013

How are Rainsford and Zaroff different, and how are they alike in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

The protagonist and antagonist of the short story "The
Most Dangerous Game" share at least one similarity. Rainsford and Zaroff both love the
thrill of the hunt, and they have travelled to different parts of the world to kill the
big game they view as their greatest challenge. However, the two men differ in most
other respects. Where Rainsford travels the globe to seek big game, Zaroff has isolated
himself on a remote island in the Caribbean, stocking the it with many of the same
animals that Rainsford seeks. Rainsford is still an enthusiastic hunter, while Zaroff
has grown bored with the sport. But the biggest division between the two men is their
idea of killing: Rainsford restricts his hunt to animals, while Zaroff has moved on to
the human prey. This repulses Rainsford, and he wants no part of Zaroff's game nor his
hospitality. Forced to play the game anyway, Rainsford proves a skillful adversary for
Zaroff; and when the game is over, Zaroff honorably names Rainsford the winner. But by
this time, Rainsford's values have changed, and he is ready to play Zaroff's game
himself--this time as the hunter. 

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