Skip to main content

What are the two main things Rainsford and Whitney discuss on the boat, and why is one of these things so ironic in "The Most Dangerous Game" by...

En route to their hunting excursion in Brazil, Whitney and Rainsford discuss Ship-Trap Island and the hunter/prey relationship.


As they move through the dark sea, Whitney mentions that to their right is what the old charts call "Ship-Trap Island," adding that sailors have a dread of this place hidden in the dark. Whitney then observes that it will be light by the time they reach Rio de Janeiro, and Rainsford indicates his excitement about hunting jaguars:


...

En route to their hunting excursion in Brazil, Whitney and Rainsford discuss Ship-Trap Island and the hunter/prey relationship.


As they move through the dark sea, Whitney mentions that to their right is what the old charts call "Ship-Trap Island," adding that sailors have a dread of this place hidden in the dark. Whitney then observes that it will be light by the time they reach Rio de Janeiro, and Rainsford indicates his excitement about hunting jaguars:



"The best sport in the world"
"For the hunter," amended Whitney. "Not for the jaguar."
"....Who cares how a jaguar feels?"
"Perhaps the jaguar does," observed Whitney.
"Bah! They've no understanding."



Whitney counters that jaguars understand, at least, the fears of pain and death.


This last discussion is quite ironic because later in the narrative, Rainsford finds himself in the position of the jaguar he and Whitney have discussed. After falling off his ship and landing on Ship-Trap Island, Rainsford becomes the prey in the "most dangerous game" of General Zaroff, learning only too well the fears of pain and death. As the hounds chase Rainsford and howl when they catch a fresh scent of him, Rainsford "knew now how an animal at bay feels." In fact, when Rainsford finally manages to confront Zaroff in his bedchamber and the general congratulates him, "You have won the game," Rainsford demurs, "I am still a beast at bay..." He then challenges Zaroff to a duel so he may again play the role of predator.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...