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In Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game," what is the first conflict that Rainsford must face?

When referring to "conflict" in a story, one must consider where the struggle is. A conflict can be man vs. man, man vs. self, or man vs. nature, for example. Therefore, Rainsford's first struggle is man vs. man because he must choose whether to be hunted by General Zaroff or be turned over to Ivan the Cossack for torture. Being hunted by General Zaroff seems to have more of a sporting chance to live rather...

When referring to "conflict" in a story, one must consider where the struggle is. A conflict can be man vs. man, man vs. self, or man vs. nature, for example. Therefore, Rainsford's first struggle is man vs. man because he must choose whether to be hunted by General Zaroff or be turned over to Ivan the Cossack for torture. Being hunted by General Zaroff seems to have more of a sporting chance to live rather than submitting to torture, so Rainsford chooses to be hunted in the jungle of Zaroff's island.


However, the first day of the hunt can be considered a conflict as well. This conflict is man vs. man because it is General Zaroff's hunting skills and pistol against Rainsford's knife in the jungle. First Rainsford creates many different paths which make it difficult for Zaroff to track him. Then, he constructs a Malay man-catcher which wounds Zaroff on his shoulder. The next day Zaroff brings a dog to help him, who dies in a Burmese pit that Rainsford constructs. This conflict is man vs. man and animal. On the third day, Rainsford must face the whole pack of Zaroff's dogs; so that is man vs. man and animals again. Overall, the conflict is man vs. man because both men use their skills and wits against each other.

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