Entry Nine: Connell

"The Most Dangerous Game"
Richard Connell (1924)

"Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs 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? I hunt the scum of the earth: sailors from tramp ships -- lassars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels - a thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them."

The intensity of this story wasn’t completely real to me at first; the words on this page were horrifying, but what they truly entailed wasn’t honed in and honest until I read it in it’s entirely for a second time. For it’s time, “The Most Dangerous Game” was a story that stood out, such subject matter wasn’t really written about, I’d assume. But this story has some very similar traits to more modern novels and movies – in a way, it’s been an increasing trend.

So Connell’s story fits right in.

I found it interesting how cultures and people were spoken of in this story; Zaroff speaks of African Americans, Chinese, and anyone who isn’t white, as if they’re animals. Even lesser than ‘lesser beings’. He speaks of Ivan, his aid, in terrible light, even though he’s exceedingly important for the General’s survival on the island. Also, the level-headed manner in which Zaroff treats Rainsford; even when one is hunting the other, Zaroff speaks to Rainsford in a very proper way. His manners are in tact for the entirety of their interactions, even at the very end.

In a way, the general reminded me very much of Hannibal Lecter; formal, polite, a stickler for detail. And, well, they’re both cannibalistic murders. So that’s definitely a bit of a similarity.

Also, or perhaps more importantly, the words spoken by Zaroff about power; he has plenty of it, and he sees no reason why he shouldn’t use it. I think this story is based very much in power, and is a lesson to the readers as to how one should use it. In the case of Zaroff, he abuses his power in awful ways. He murders men because the sport of hunting animals because too mundane for him. And with his wealth and influence, has justified murdering dozens of humans just to satiate his need for power.

In contrast, we have Rainsford; he is also a hunter, and has even published books about his achievements and skills in the field. He has an abundance of power, but even when he could use it for evil, he does not. Of course, while he’s being hunted, he uses his skills against the general, but for the means of defense. Everyone has a will to live, and Rainsford used his power and skill to survive. As a whole, he did not abuse his power, while Zaroff did.

I took away a warning from this story – one being that power can destroy you. It can twist you until you aren’t human, you’re a mutation of a human. Your morality is lost in a search for it, and in the end it destroys you.

Also, don’t kill people and indulge in cannibalism. That’s not the wisest life choice.