Zaroff loves hunting, but it’s just become too easy. It can’t just be about strength anymore; his prey must have reason and skill, be shrewd and cunning, as smart as—or smarter than—he is. From his long experience with hunting, Zaroff has come to associate strength with animals, and skill and reason with humans. But not all humans are created equally. In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Zaroff soon discovers that his opponents have varying levels of skill, with Spanish sailors at the base and only “the occasional tartar” at the peak. Until the arrival of Sanger Rainsford, the game has still been all too easy. Zaroff has never lost.
Questions About Strength and Skill
- Between Zaroff and Rainsford, who has the better skill?
- What does strength have to do with skill? Are they completely separate qualities?
- What are Zaroff’s skills, considering he has Ivan and a pack of bloodhounds to back him up?
- What are Ivan’s strengths and skills?
Chew on This
Strength and skill have a lot to do with confidence in “The Most Dangerous Game.”
In this story, hunting is as much about the hunter’s strength and skill as it is about the prey’s.