The Most Dangerous Game. The Most Dangerous Game is an interesting and exciting book, filled with

Transcription

1 EasyPeasy 9 January 2014 The Most Dangerous Game The Most Dangerous Game is an interesting and exciting book, filled with action and adventure. The main character, Rainsford, finds himself in a strange predicament, where he is hunted by another human being. What makes the book so interesting is following Rainsfords interesting predicament. The story begins on a boat sailing to the Amazon rainforest. Rainsford and his hunting partner Whitney are passengers on this particular vessel. In the dark of the night the ship nears an island the hardy sailors are afraid of. Whitney said The old charts call it ship trap island (2). Many boats have been wrecked on the island and the crew never heard from again. After Whiteney decides to go to sleep, Rainsford hears gun shots in the distance. As he leans over the rail to try and see where the gunshots came from, he falls into the water. Rainsford struggles to catch up to the boat, but eventually gives up and swims towards the nearest island. After he awakes from a long sleep, Rainsford decides to look around and perhaps discover the source of the gunshots he heard earlier. Soon he finds an area where it seemed an animal had thrashed about, and spots some footprints. He follows them until he stumbles upon One enormous building (9) that he thinks is a mirage. When he inspects it closer he finds it is real, and knocks on the door. Rainsford is greeted by two Russians, one named Ivan who is a mute and General Zaroff. Gen. Zaroff invites Rainsford inside to dine with them, and he is greeted by a warm meal of borsch, the rich, red soup with whipped cream so dear to Russian palates (14). While

2 dining Gen. Zaroff explains he lives to hunt, but he was getting bored of hunting because he was too good at it. Until, one day he invented a new animal to hunt. A new animal? You re joking. Rainsford said in reply (20). Gen. Zaroff explains that the new animal had the ability to reason. When Rainsford understood he meant humans, he was disgusted. Gen. Zaroff went to hunt his new animal after dinner and Rainsford decided to sleep. The next day after lunch, the General returns. He is worried that his boredom with being perfect at hunting is coming back, and wants a better animal. He realizes Rainsford would be the perfect candidate. You don t mean- cried Rainsford. My dear fellow said the general, have I not told you I always mean what i say about hunting? (29-30). The Genereal promisis Rainsford that if he can survive 3 days he will be returned to the mainland. Rainsford receives some supplies from Gen. Zaroff and heads out to start making a trail. Rainsford ran away from the dwelling for two hours before stopping and making a false trail. He took refuge in a big thick tree and lay there. Towards early morning Rainsford heard a startled bird cry out and realized something or someone was following his fake trail. Carefully he flattened himself on the branch and saw that General Zaroff had followed him! The General stopped right beneath the tree, studying the ground, and Rainsford wanted to pounce upon him but noticed the general had a pistol. Moving his gaze upwards the general slowly examined the tree. Just before he would have seen Rainsford he smiled, blew smoke from his pipe, and walked back the way he had come. Rainsford realized that the General was playing with him and ran off into the woods. 300 yards from his hiding place he found a dead tree leaning on a smaller living one. Rainsford took out his knife and started to work on a trap. When he finished he hid

3 100 yards away and waited for the General. Zaroff was so intent on following Rainsford trail that he was in the trap before he knew it. His foot hit the trigger and the dead tree fell hitting his shoulder. The General dusted himself off and yelled that he was impressed with Rainsfords performance and he shall be back after he cleaned his wound. Rainsford hopelessly ran until night. He stopped at the edge of a swamp and started to dig. When the hole was past his shoulders he got out and and found some hard saplings and sharpened them with his knife. He put these points into his pit and made a cover of weeds and branches and covered his second trap. He hid and waited for the general. It seemed hewas hurried this time, not as cautious as before. He heard a crack as his cover broke and a yelp penetrated the dark. He jumped up and was about to run over when he noticed the General was standing at the edge of the pit with a flashlight. The General said, Your Burmese tiger pit has claimed one of my best dogs. Again you score. I think, Mr. Rainsford, Ill see what you can do against my whole pack. I m going home for a rest now. (40) At dawn Rainsford woke up and heard the barking of a pack of hounds. He ran to a ridge and climbed a tree. Not more than a quater mile away was the General and his butler Ivan who was holding the leashes of the dogs. He climbed down and found a young sapling. He tied his hunting knife to it and tied the sapling down with vines. Then he ran. The barking of the dogs stopped and so did Rainsford. He climbed a tree and looked back. He saw General Zaroff still on his feet, but Ivan was not. Rainsford had barely touched the ground when he heard the hounds again. He dashed away, but the dogs were slowly catching up. He reached the ocean and halted. Then he jumped. When the General reached the bay he studied the waves for a minute. He then

4 sat down and had some wine and smoked a cigar. The General had a good dinner that night, but two things were on his mind. One was that Ivan would be hard to replace and two was that his prey had escaped him. He read a little in his library to soothe himself. At ten o clock he went up to his bedroom. Before he turned on the light he called out the window to his hounds and told them, Better luck another time, (43). He turn on the light and saw Rainsford standing there. The General congratulated Rainsford on winning the game. Rainsford did not smile. I am still a beast at bay, he said, in a low hoarse voice. Get ready, General Zaroff. The general made one of his deepest bows. I see, he said. Splendid! One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford.... He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided. (44) Works Cited

5 Connell, Richard. The Most Dangerous Game 19 Jan. 1924

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