General Zaroff Character Analysis Essay
General Zaroff, the antagonist in “The Most Dangerous Game”, can reflect as a confident and thrill-seeking person. Throughout the story General Zaroff displayed several instances where he was overconfident in himself. At the beginning of the story when Rainsford first arrived at the General Zaroff’s residence, he noticed right away that, “ About the hall were mounted heads of many animals- lions, tigers, elephants, moose, bears; larger or more perfect specimens Rainsford had never seen.”(Richard Connell 4) Also, the general hung all of his trophies from his hunts right in the dining room straight above his guests so they can stare right at them. This displays an intimidation factor to the guest as they eat revealing who is truly the hunter
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Zaroff directly states, “ 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.”(Richard Connell 5) The general also explains to Rainsford how this is the only worthy opponent left that still intrigues him and gives him the thrill of the hunt. Mainly because they are the only quarry that can have reason versus the other quarries who only have instinct. Consequently Rainsford was the next prey the general had in mind. Zaroff says that, “ Instinct is no match for reason.”(Richard Connell 5) The final way that the reader can analyze Zaroff’s thrill seeking trait is his ability to understand his limits, and know that a hunt is only exciting if it’s prey is a contest to his abilities. This can be inferred in the story when Zaroff tracked Rainsford through the forest in the dark, and when he did find Rainsford, he simply turned and walked away with his smile on his face. The reader could infer and Rainsford said, “The general was playing with him! The general was saving him for another day's sport.”(Richard Connell 10) This shows the reader that killing his own prey is of no enjoyment to Zaroff unless it is a challenge. This is why Zaroff did not kill Rainsford the first time, because he is not
Zaroff directly states, “ 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.”(Richard Connell 5) The general also explains to Rainsford how this is the only worthy opponent left that still intrigues him and gives him the thrill of the hunt. Mainly because they are the only quarry that can have reason versus the other quarries who only have instinct. Consequently Rainsford was the next prey the general had in mind. Zaroff says that, “ Instinct is no match for reason.”(Richard Connell 5) The final way that the reader can analyze Zaroff’s thrill seeking trait is his ability to understand his limits, and know that a hunt is only exciting if it’s prey is a contest to his abilities. This can be inferred in the story when Zaroff tracked Rainsford through the forest in the dark, and when he did find Rainsford, he simply turned and walked away with his smile on his face. The reader could infer and Rainsford said, “The general was playing with him! The general was saving him for another day's sport.”(Richard Connell 10) This shows the reader that killing his own prey is of no enjoyment to Zaroff unless it is a challenge. This is why Zaroff did not kill Rainsford the first time, because he is not