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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This is one of those random little short stories that I somehow managed not to read in high school, and then just never got around to. My teenage brother read it for high school not too long ago, and I was reminded that it had been something I wanted to read, especially after how excited my brother was when he was telling me he about reading it for school (we have very similar tastes). I definitely wasn't disappointed.
As far as classics go this one was definitely fun. I have a soft spot for classic short stories when they get into this weird dark area. The final sentence is the kind of short story twist I live for. I wouldn't say I was "surprised" by any of the twists in this very twisty story, as it has been parodied by just about everything and everyone, but they were still an absolute delight to read. Obviously parts of it were a little uncomfortable due to the dated nature of the story, but it was a matter of remembering when it was written and moving on to enjoy the rest of the story.
This is definitely one of the classic short stories that's worth a read. If you like short stories (especially darker ones), if you enjoy any of the many parodies, or if you need to read this for school anyway, it's definitely worth checking out.
As far as classics go this one was definitely fun. I have a soft spot for classic short stories when they get into this weird dark area. The final sentence is the kind of short story twist I live for. I wouldn't say I was "surprised" by any of the twists in this very twisty story, as it has been parodied by just about everything and everyone, but they were still an absolute delight to read. Obviously parts of it were a little uncomfortable due to the dated nature of the story, but it was a matter of remembering when it was written and moving on to enjoy the rest of the story.
This is definitely one of the classic short stories that's worth a read. If you like short stories (especially darker ones), if you enjoy any of the many parodies, or if you need to read this for school anyway, it's definitely worth checking out.
3.75 stars.
A really cool concept and an interesting thriller-type short story. I would like it more if the end didn’t seem rushed. I would have liked a bit more anticipation and detail. An extra 10 pages or so could have made this perfect!
A really cool concept and an interesting thriller-type short story. I would like it more if the end didn’t seem rushed. I would have liked a bit more anticipation and detail. An extra 10 pages or so could have made this perfect!
Read for school so no rating
I enjoyed reading it, but I'm not entirely sure what point Connell is trying to make. Don't kill people? Hunting is bad? Be vegetarian?
I enjoyed reading it, but I'm not entirely sure what point Connell is trying to make. Don't kill people? Hunting is bad? Be vegetarian?
The first time I read this it was required in 9th grade English class. I loved it and this short story has stuck with me ever since. Keep in mind this was almost 14 years ago and I've never forgotten it. So when I was browsing through audiobooks my library offers on the Overdrive app I had to listen to it! It's just as great as I remembered. I need to find a physical copy of the book sometime.
"He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided"
The Most Dangerous Game is a short story by Richard Connell, following Sanger Rainsford, a young American hunter who through the power of sheer idiocy, falls of his yacht while en route to Brazil and ends up on an island called Ship Trap. The only inhabitant on this island is a former Russian General Zaroff, a man obsessed with hunting. The general proposes a very simple 'game' to Rainsford; if Rainsford can survive in the jungle for 3 days while Zaroff hunts him, he can leave the island.
I read The Most Dangerous Game for the first time in high school and have loved this little story ever since. It's a great adventure/suspense piece, and I know very little about hunting.
On this reread, I only love it even more. The premise is great, but what really makes the story for me, is the dynamic between Rainsford and Zaroff.
Rainsford is a very typical American protagonist of this era. He is brave, has very strong moral convictions, but is also more than a little naive and prejudiced. I couldn't help but compare him to Prendick from The Island of Dr. Moreau because I read both of these on the same day, and I way prefer Raisnford's more proactive character. He sets traps and outwits Zaroff and there is a real sense that he deserves his victory at the end.
My absolute favorite, over the top moment is the conversation between Rainsford and his friend Whitney. Rainsford assertion that no one cares "how the jaguar feels" while being hunted, followed up by "Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters" (p. 4) is about on par with Connell throwing a brick in your face that says "THEME DAMMIT".
This exact sentiment is later paralleled by Zaroff's amazingly racist statement of "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?" (p. 20) where he talks about hunting "blacks, Chinese" and "mongrels".
And yet, Zaroff is an amazing character. He's like a proto-Bond villain: he dresses impeccably, has near superhuman reflexes and hunting abilities, killed his first bear when he was 10, and has so much sexual chemistry with Rainsford, if this were a movie made now, it would look like 90 min of the homoerotic volleyball scene from Top Gun. I loved all the non-nonsensical justifications for his hunting addiction, making fun of Rainsford for being "puritanical" about not wanting to kill people and my absolute favorite comment "Oh, yes," he said, casually, as if in answer to a question, "I have electricity. We try to be civilized here." (p. 22).
There is nothing redeemable about him, and I don't understand how it was an assignment in school to write the ending of this story. The ending is fine? It doesn't need rewriting or any additions? If anything, I would have loved to see the duel between Rainsford and Zaroff, but not anything after Rainsford wins. And I don't see any universe in which Rainsford would take Zaroff's place; it's pretty heavily implied that he would just escape the island. Why else would we even mention the Spanish crew that's being held captive by Zaroff?
Overall I love this story. It was great in high school and it's still great now, and if anything, it definitely inspires me to track down more stories from Connell.
The Most Dangerous Game is a short story by Richard Connell, following Sanger Rainsford, a young American hunter who through the power of sheer idiocy, falls of his yacht while en route to Brazil and ends up on an island called Ship Trap. The only inhabitant on this island is a former Russian General Zaroff, a man obsessed with hunting. The general proposes a very simple 'game' to Rainsford; if Rainsford can survive in the jungle for 3 days while Zaroff hunts him, he can leave the island.
I read The Most Dangerous Game for the first time in high school and have loved this little story ever since. It's a great adventure/suspense piece, and I know very little about hunting.
On this reread, I only love it even more. The premise is great, but what really makes the story for me, is the dynamic between Rainsford and Zaroff.
Rainsford is a very typical American protagonist of this era. He is brave, has very strong moral convictions, but is also more than a little naive and prejudiced. I couldn't help but compare him to Prendick from The Island of Dr. Moreau because I read both of these on the same day, and I way prefer Raisnford's more proactive character. He sets traps and outwits Zaroff and there is a real sense that he deserves his victory at the end.
My absolute favorite, over the top moment is the conversation between Rainsford and his friend Whitney. Rainsford assertion that no one cares "how the jaguar feels" while being hunted, followed up by "Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters" (p. 4) is about on par with Connell throwing a brick in your face that says "THEME DAMMIT".
This exact sentiment is later paralleled by Zaroff's amazingly racist statement of "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?" (p. 20) where he talks about hunting "blacks, Chinese" and "mongrels".
And yet, Zaroff is an amazing character. He's like a proto-Bond villain: he dresses impeccably, has near superhuman reflexes and hunting abilities, killed his first bear when he was 10, and has so much sexual chemistry with Rainsford, if this were a movie made now, it would look like 90 min of the homoerotic volleyball scene from Top Gun. I loved all the non-nonsensical justifications for his hunting addiction, making fun of Rainsford for being "puritanical" about not wanting to kill people and my absolute favorite comment "Oh, yes," he said, casually, as if in answer to a question, "I have electricity. We try to be civilized here." (p. 22).
There is nothing redeemable about him, and I don't understand how it was an assignment in school to write the ending of this story. The ending is fine? It doesn't need rewriting or any additions? If anything, I would have loved to see the duel between Rainsford and Zaroff, but not anything after Rainsford wins. And I don't see any universe in which Rainsford would take Zaroff's place; it's pretty heavily implied that he would just escape the island. Why else would we even mention the Spanish crew that's being held captive by Zaroff?
Overall I love this story. It was great in high school and it's still great now, and if anything, it definitely inspires me to track down more stories from Connell.
I just read this again for my Honors Lit class and loved it yet again. So twisted and dark and so good.