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Phu Nguyen
Period 2
10/29/10

Rainsford Biggest Challenge

In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, Rainsford changed from having no sympathy toward animals to having sympathy toward animals because Rainsford experienced how it felt to be hunted. In the beginning of the story, Rainsford and Whitney are heading down south to hunt. Whitney discussed if animals have the feeling of fear with Rainsford. Rainsford disagrees with Whitney because Rainsford believes that animals have no feelings of fear. Later that night Rainsford heard a loud noise. Rainsford searched to see where the noise came from, but suddenly he fell into the ocean. When Rainsford woke, he found himself on an island. Rainsford walked around the huge jungle until he found a mysterious house in the middle of the jungle. In the house, Rainsford met Zaroff and his servant Ivan. Zaroff invited Rainsford into his home to explain about the island. As Rainsford and Zaroff discussed the island and hunting, Zaroff explained how boring hunting is to him. He found new animals to hunt. Rainsford was confused, but then he realizes that Zaroff hunts humans! Rainsford was astonished and decided to leave the island but for Rainsford to leave he would have to win Zaroff’s game. For Rainsford to win the game Rainsford would have to survive in the jungle without dying. Zaroff gave Rainsford three days to survive in the jungle, but if Zaroff finds him, Rainsford loses the game and dies.   So as the exhausting game continued for days, Rainsford began to feel fear. Rainsford began to feel fear because Rainsford was hunted, “Rainsford knew how an animal at bay feels”                 (Connell 22). Both Rainsford and the hunted animals experienced fear. Rainsford changed during the game with Zaroff because Rainsford started to feel fear and experienced it as well. While feeling fear and experiencing it, Rainsford shows sympathy for animals being hunted. Rainsford begins to realize that hunted animals and humans...