Self-Defense In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell is a very debatable story and is very much open to question in the fact that some may believe that Rainsford becomes or for that matter, does not become the next general of Ship Trap Island. Some may believe that Rainsford has taken on the qualities of General Zaroff; psychotic and insane. However, others may believe that Rainsford is acting only out of self- defense. I, personally believe that Rainsford does not become the next general of Ship Trap Island, in the reasons that Rainsford only kills General Zaroff out of self defense, and also, Rainsford does not even desire to become the next general.
One reason Rainsford does not show qualities of becoming the next General Zaroff is the way that he acts only out of self- defense.
By definition, murder is the unlawful premeditated killing of one human by another. A hunter, by definition is one who pursues and kills a wild animal for sport or food. Both hunting and murdering are premeditated, but hunting is the killing of a wild animal that does not have the reasoning of that of a human. Murder is the planned killing of a human being with the human possessing reason and rationale. General Zaroff is not hunting humans, hunting is legal. Rainsford is a hunter, and when confronted with an aggressive animal, a hunter is likely to kill it in fear for his life and others’. As Rainsford was running through the jungle being chased by General Zaroff, Rainsford reassures himself, “I will keep my nerve. I will keep it” (Connell 34). This quote implies that Rainsford, while very nervous, insures himself that he will not go crazy and he will only kill if he needs to, which is out of self-defense. Also, Rainsford