If you want to see a highlighted version of this text, go to the "Projects" page, and under "Short Story Unit" will be,"Revised version of: PLN Post 3: "The Most Dangerous Blog Post - With Highlights".
In the short story, "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell, the author had a lot of hints toward how he feels about hunting and about 'the hunt.' While Rainsford was on the island talking to the general, I think Connell expressed his tone through Rainsford like it was Connell in his shoes.
"’Hunting? Great Guns, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder.’
The general laughed with entire good nature. He regarded Rainsford quizzically. ‘I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life. Surely your experiences in the war--’
‘Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder,’ finished Rainsford stiffly.
Laughter shook the general. ‘How extraordinarily droll you are!’ he said. ‘One does not expect nowadays to find a young man of the educated class, even in America, with such a naive, and, if I may say so, mid-Victorian point of view. It's like finding a snuffbox in a limousine. Ah, well, doubtless you had Puritan ancestors. So many Americans appear to have had. I'll wager you'll forget your notions when you go hunting with me. You've a genuine new thrill in store for you, Mr. Rainsford.’
‘Thank you, I'm a hunter, not a murderer.’”
In that paragraph, Connell says that General Zaroff was trying to play with him, but I think he also suggests how cruel the general is being. Hunting for his entertainment, for sport. "Your strength and stamina against mine. Outdoor chess!" The general says this, but doesn't think about how evil he has really become. Like in one of my previous blogs, I showed a chart about what is good, bad, and evil (on resources page), and I think the general is evil. He is doing a bad thing with a bad intention. He grew up hunting without learning the facts. And I think that's what Connell is trying to express through the story. Never do anything immoral without learning the consequence.
So that kind of sums up what I think Connells thoughts are about this short story and what his moral kind of represents. Thanks for reading!
- Matt
Also, for information about this short story, please check out the "Resources" page for info about everything I'm talking about. Thanks!
