Essay Sample on Suspense in The Most Dangerous Game

Suspense is one of the most powerful tactics for keeping the reader interested in the story while feeling excited and anxious about what may happen, and in “The Most Dangerous Game” Richard Connell successfully builds suspense and tension with the use of foreshadowing, imagery, and irony to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Foreshadowing is probably the most common and important suspense trigger used by the author. Connell opens the story with foreshadowing when he mentions “Ship-Trap Island” (Connell 1), which is essentially a warning not to travel there because ships get trapped there. Furthermore, he builds up the tension through the discussions between the sailors who “have a curious dread of the island” (Connell 1) and who also know something we do not. Then Rainsford falls into the water and ends up on the island, as expected, leaving the reader to speculate on what will happen next. This keeps the reader intrigued and curious about whether Rainsford will survive on the “dreaded” island or not. Connell also introduces this literary device into Rainsford and Whitney's hunting conversation at the start of the story. “The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees,” Rainsford remarks, oblivious to what is to follow. “Luckily, you and I are the hunters” (Connell 1). Due to Rainsford´s status as a hunter, he has no sympathy for the animals, revealing Rainsford's lack of concern for the creatures he kills. This exchange foreshadows the struggle Rainsford will soon face as the huntee on 'Ship-Trap Island, when he is hunted by General Zaroff. Connell ends the story leaving the reader with the ultimate suspense because although one knows that Rainsford has won the hunt, one does not know how things will end for Zaroff. Readers are in suspense because they do not know how this will play out. In the story one often recognizes Rainsford is in trouble before the character does however one has no way to help and that is what builds tension and suspense to keep the reader intrigued in the story.

“The Most Dangerous Game” is filled with suspense which is heightened by the irony in this story. The most popular type of irony the reader discovers in this story would be dramatic irony, to enhance the suspense. For example, when Rainsford puts up a series of traps in the hopes that Zaroff will fall for one of them, Zaroff is oblivious of them, adding to the suspense because the reader does not know if Zaroff will fall for them or not. This irony adds meaning to the story by making the reader feel powerless and anxious, much like the victim. However, the biggest example of dramatic irony was at the very end, when Rainsford leaped off the cliff into the sea - quite the cliffhanger. General Zaroff assumes that Rainsford is dead and that he has won the hunt once again, however, the reader knows that Rainsford is still alive and what awaits General Zaroff back at the chateau. The irony in this story keeps the reader holding their breath, wondering what will happen next when Rainsford and General Zaroff meet again. The dramatic irony in “The Most Dangerous Game” places the audience and readers above the characters, while also making the readers anticipate and fear the moment when a character learns the truth behind the story's events and situations.

Connell also uses imagery in “The Most Dangerous Game” to create a suspenseful mood. An example would be when General Zaroff finds Rainsford hiding in the tree. Connell mentions that, “Rainsford held his breath. The general’s eyes had left the ground and were traveling inch by inch up the tree” (Connell 12). This description keeps readers guessing about what will happen to Rainsford, when General Zaroff's eyes reach the top of the tree. Connell also creates tension by using imagery to illustrate to the reader how tense and frightened Rainsford feels throughout the story. For example, Zaroff's first look at Rainsford, was a “menacing look” (Connell 4), and his quote is imagery because it describes the sight in his eyes, which did not alter and was likewise menacing. Imagery helps to illustrate to the reader how tense and frightened Rainsford feels during the story, and that builds a thrilling and suspenseful mood throughout the whole story. 

Throughout “The Most Dangerous Game” Richard Connell skillfully develops suspense and tension through foreshadowing, irony and imagery. This produces a plot that holds the reader's attention until the finish, when we know that Rainsford has won the hunt, but leaves us guessing how Zaroff has met his end.