Book Review: The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell

In any story there needs to be conflict; without it, there is no story. Conflict pushes the characters through high points, which leads to falling action. “The Most Dangerous Game,” proves why conflict is crucial in every story. Throughout the story, it is clear that the main character, Rainsford, battles himself, nature, and General Zaroff, a man. The author proves that in the story, man versus man exists because Rainsford battles General Zaroff. As the story progresses, Rainsford also finds himself going against himself and nature. In the story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” by Richard Connell, the author pushes Rainsford through these challenges and proves that conflict is crucial to the story. 

Rainsford is stranded on Ship-Trap Island and battles the wilderness, proving that man versus nature exists. As Rainsford struggles to swim to the island after falling overboard, the narrator states that: “For a seemingly endless time he fought the sea” (3). Here it is clear that Rainsford wrestles with the sea as he struggles to reach land. As he fought his long battle with the sea, he felt weary and almost gave up. Fighting the sea proves that man versus nature exists because it clearly shows that they are against each other. Once Rainsford is on land he realizes that he is now safe and states: “he was safe from his enemy, the sea” (4). Rainsford’s enemy, the sea, shows that he and the sea were against each other when he fell overboard.  Eventually, once Rainsford swims to land he acknowledges that he is safe from his enemy. Through these emotional high points of the story,  it is proven that Rainsford’s battle’s with the sea shows how man versus nature exists in the story. 

Once Rainsford encounters General Zaroff, he finds himself in a deadly battle against the General, showing how man versus man exists in the story. When Rainsford is challenged to a game of outdoor chess against General Zaroff, he realizes that the stakes are quite high.  General Zaroff states: “Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and stamina against mine” (14). When Rainsford and General Zaroff go against each other, it shows how their wit and strength are going head to head. This demonstrates how man versus man exists in the story, because Rainsford and General Zaroff are going against each other. Now that Rainsford has outsmarted General Zaroff by escaping his evil grasp, he hides in General Zaroff’s bedroom to end this battle once and for all. Once General Zaroff accepts his defeat, he states:  “You have won the game,” but Rainsford contradicts “‘I am still a beast at bay,’ he said in a low, hoarse voice. ‘Get ready, General Zaroff’” (20). Proving that the game has finally ended, shows how Rainsford and General Zaroff were against each other. While Rainsford, still waiting to attack the General, demonstrates a battle between the both of them. Throughout the game of outdoor chess between Rainsford and General Zaroff they go head to head, proving that man versus man is prominent in the story. 

While Rainsford anxiously awaits his death by General Zaroff, he battles his sanity, making it clear that man versus himself is in the story. As Rainsford fights his way through the bushes, attempting to escape General Zaroff he reminds himself to keep it together. Rainsford states, while trying to calm himself down, “‘I must keep my nerve. I must keep my nerve,’ he said through tight teeth” (15). When running for his life, it is easy to lose one’s nerve, but Rainsford keeps it together to survive. By fighting his own worries he goes against himself, fighting to stay sane and win the game. Rainsford clarifies for himself that he must keep his nerve to stay in the game, and proves that battling himself demonstrates the existence of man versus man in the story. 

The conflicts in “The Most Dangerous Game,” by Richard Connell, are absolutely crucial to the plot of the story. What makes this story a story is the three main conflicts present. “The Most Dangerous Game” demonstrates that Rainsford goes against General Zaroff. This example proves man versus man exists. As Rainsford plummets off of his boat and battles the  mighty sea; it is clear that Rainsford is against the sea. Which proves that the conflict between man versus nature exists in the story. While Rainsford runs for his life, he battles his sanity, referring to man versus himself. Thus, this is why conflict in “The Most Dangerous Game” is absolutely crucial in the short story. Without it, Rainsford would not have ended up on the island and would not have had to fight to survive. Rainsford also would have no motives and there would be nothing to prove who Rainsford is as a character. However, it is clear that conflict is conspicuously crucial in every story; regardless of genre. For any story the reader needs conflict to be enticed more into reading it, and to understand the purpose of the story. Without it, that story would have ceased to exist.