In Richard Connell’s short story, The Most Dangerous Game, the character that ultimately prevails is Sanger Rainsford. Rainsford, a skilled big-game hunter, finds himself in a perilous situation when he becomes the hunted, instead of the hunter, while on a remote island owned by the enigmatic General Zaroff.
The climax of the story reveals Rainsford’s resourcefulness and cunning. Despite being pursued through the dense jungle and under extreme duress, he uses his knowledge of hunting to outsmart Zaroff. One key piece of evidence supporting Rainsford’s victory is the way he cleverly sets traps, illustrating his ingenuity and survival instincts. For instance, he constructs a Burmese tiger pit, which captures Zaroff’s best hunting hound, demonstrating his ability to turn the tables.
Ultimately, Rainsford confronts Zaroff in the final showdown. In the story’s conclusion, after a tense chase through the jungle, Rainsford surprises Zaroff in his own home, indicating that he has successfully outwitted his adversary. The ending, where Rainsford declares, ‘I live for danger, Mr. Zaroff,’ solidifies his position as the ultimate victor, having turned the predator-prey dynamic on its head.
In summary, Rainsford wins The Most Dangerous Game not only through his physical skills as a hunter but also through his ability to adapt and outsmart a formidable opponent in Zaroff. His victory emphasizes themes of survival and the instinctual nature of humanity when faced with life-and-death situations.