Irony in The Most Dangerous Game Literary Analysis Essay

“The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters,” Sanger Rainsford declares in “The Most Dangerous Game.” Rainsford is a big game hunter, heading to the Amazon to hunt jaguars. At the onset of the story, he proclaims that hunting is the best sport in the world. Rainsford does not care about huntees feelings and claims they have no understanding when it comes to the hunt. Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” is filled with irony and action; from hunter to huntee, this story comes with many twists. 

“Who cares how a jaguar feels?” asks Rainsford. “They've no understanding.” Rainsford, a big game hunter, has no feelings for his prey. He thinks hunting wild animals is normal. Yet, when General Zaroff tells Rainsford he hunts humans, Rainsford claims it is murder. Rainsford previously believed huntees have no feelings, but he realizes he was wrong when the tables turn and he becomes hunted. Rainsford has to survive being hunted by General Zaroff, one of the most skilled hunters of all time. “You and I are hunters,” Rainsford had declared. Yet he, soon, will be a huntee. 

Rainsford believes huntees can only understand fear. “The fear of pain and the fear of death.” Huntees do not understand what is going on. All they understand is fear, or so Rainsford thinks. Soon, however, Rainsford realizes he was wrong, huntees understand so much more. Rainsford is a proud hunter with much reasoning. He realizes that he has to kill General Zaroff to escape and get back home. Now all of a sudden, Rainsford is a huntee. 

Rainsford found the General “a most thoughtful and affable host.” After all, he was given a delicious, free meal. Rainsford was on Ship-Trap Island, “safe from his enemy.” When General Zaroff tells Rainsford he hunts humans, Rainsford is shocked. “His first thought made him feel sick and numb.” Soon, Rainsford is hunted and nearly killed by General Zaroff. The irony in “The Most Dangerous Game” is a major part of the plot of the story. 

Irony is defined as “actions that are understood by the audience but not by the characters” (Merriam-Webster). The short story “The Most Dangerous Game” is an example of irony in literature. With countless examples, Richard Connell demonstrates the use of irony in this story. From hunter to huntee, safe to almost dead, this story is a great example of irony. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell employs the use of irony as we follow Rainsford on his journey at Ship-Trap Island.