The most dangerous game began as a sport for one man. In Richard Connell's story "The Most Dangerous Game," Sanger Rainsford, an avid hunter, is lost at sea, stranded on "Ship-Trap" Island-every sailor's worst nightmare. Rainsford goes through a series of events that prove to be life-altering. Even though Sanger Rainsford went through many trials and tribulations, he never lost his intelligence, composure, or his bravery.
Rainsford is an intelligent man. Early in the story, "Rainsford remembered the shots. They had come from the right, and he doggedly swam in that direction" (34). Rainsford had just fallen in the water, swam fifty feet further out, but he kept his senses in the right direction. In total darkness, Rainsford used his intelligence and intellect to reach the land. Also, I don't think that Rainsford knew he was being sized up when Zaroff was staring at him, but when "Rainsford's bewilderment showed in his face" (100), he quickly understood what Zaroff was leading too. Rainsford wasn't a murderer. Sure he liked to hunt game, but he wasn't bored as Zaroff was. Rainsford never bought into all the old tales. ""One superstitious sailor can taint the whole ship's company with fear"" (20). He never got worked up or stressed out.
Rainsford kept his composure. He stood for right and wrong, but was content through dinner. ""I have heard that in America businessmen often go to pieces when they give up the business that has been their life"" (85). Rainsford answers, "Yes, that's so" (85). Rainsford could have taken a stand. Of course, it is not his place, but he was calm and composed to sit back and let Zaroff open up. ""Don't be alarmed, I"m Sanger Rainsford" (47). Rainsford has a pistol pointed at his heart and he is telling this huge creation of a man that he is hungry. As much as he has been through in the past twenty-four hours, this did not alarm Rainsford. He presented himself as lost and from New York.
