The Most Dangerous Game (Connell)

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Richard Connell

The Most Dangerous Game

1924

Summary of the Short Story

Microsummary: A famous hunter discovered an island where a wealthy aristocrat hunted humans for sport. Given three days to survive, the hunter used his skills to evade capture and ultimately killed his pursuer.

Short Summary

Caribbean Sea, presumably 1920s. While sailing near the mysterious Ship-Trap Island, a skilled hunter fell overboard from his yacht.

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Sanger Rainsford — celebrated hunter and author from New York, young man, skilled woodsman and war veteran, initially callous about hunting but forced to reconsider when becoming prey himself.

After swimming to the island, he discovered a palatial chateau owned by an aristocratic Russian Cossack.

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General Zaroff — wealthy Russian Cossack aristocrat, past middle age with white hair and black mustache, refined manners masking sadistic nature, obsessed with hunting humans.

The general revealed that he lured ships to the island to hunt their crews for sport. He gave his victims a choice: be hunted by him for three days or face torture by his servant Ivan. Rainsford became his next target. For three days, Rainsford used his hunting skills to evade capture, setting traps that killed Ivan and one of Zaroff's dogs. When cornered at the cliffs, Rainsford jumped into the sea. That evening, Zaroff returned to his bedroom, where he found Rainsford waiting.

I am still a beast at bay, he said, in a low, hoarse voice. Get ready, General Zaroff... One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed.

The story ended with Rainsford sleeping in Zaroff's bed, having won the deadly game.

Detailed Summary

Division of the summary into chapters is conditional.

A Mysterious Island and an Unfortunate Fall

On a moonless Caribbean night, two men stood on a yacht discussing hunting. One of them, Whitney, mentioned a mysterious Ship-Trap Island that sailors dreaded, while his companion Rainsford dismissed such superstitions.

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Whitney — fellow hunter and Rainsford's traveling companion, philosophical about animals' capacity for feeling, appears only in opening scene.

The world is made up of two classes--the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters. Do you think we've passed that island yet?

Later that night, while smoking alone on deck, Rainsford heard gunshots from the direction of the island. As he tried to get a better look, he lost his balance and fell overboard. After a desperate swim toward the gunfire, he finally reached the rocky shore of Ship-Trap Island.

Meeting General Zaroff at the Mysterious Chateau

Following signs of civilization, Rainsford discovered an imposing chateau. He was greeted by a giant armed man who led him to the owner, General Zaroff, a cultured and sophisticated Russian Cossack. The general recognized Rainsford as a famous big-game hunter and author.

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Ivan — deaf-mute Cossack servant, giant man with black beard, incredibly strong, serves as Zaroff's enforcer and butler.

Over dinner, Zaroff revealed that he had grown bored with hunting conventional game, as it no longer presented a challenge. This led him to seek the most dangerous game of all - one that could reason.

I wanted the ideal animal to hunt... What are the attributes of an ideal quarry? And the answer was, It must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason.

The Horrifying Truth About Ship-Trap Island

To Rainsford's horror, Zaroff explained that he hunted humans - specifically, shipwrecked sailors lured to the island by false navigation lights. He gave his victims a choice: be hunted by him or face torture by Ivan. If they survived three days, they would be set free, but no one had ever succeeded.

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.

When Rainsford refused to join Zaroff in his hunts, the general gave him an ultimatum - become the next quarry or face Ivan. Rainsford chose to be hunted. He was given hunting clothes, a knife, and a three-hour head start.

The Beginning of a Deadly Game of Cat and Mouse

Rainsford used his hunting expertise to create a complex trail, hoping to confuse Zaroff. He climbed a tree to rest and watched as the general followed his trail with ease, only to deliberately turn back. This psychological warfare rattled Rainsford.

The general was playing with him! The general was saving him for another day's sport! The Cossack was the cat; he was the mouse. Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror.

Rainsford set several traps. His first, a Malay mancatcher, wounded Zaroff's shoulder. The second, a Burmese tiger pit, killed one of Zaroff's best dogs. The general remained impressed by Rainsford's ingenuity but continued the hunt with his remaining hounds.

The Final Confrontation and Ultimate Victory

On the third day, with the hounds closing in, Rainsford fashioned a trap that killed Ivan. Cornered at the cliff's edge by Zaroff and his remaining dogs, Rainsford chose to dive into the rocky waters below rather than face capture.

That evening, Zaroff returned to his chateau, disappointed at losing his quarry but looking forward to a peaceful night's rest. However, he found Rainsford waiting in his bedroom. Having swum around the island, Rainsford had chosen to confront his hunter.

Zaroff congratulated Rainsford on winning the game, but Rainsford declared that he was still a beast at bay. The two men faced off in a final duel. The story ended with Rainsford sleeping in Zaroff's bed, having won the most dangerous game.