The Most Dangerous Game

Original Movie Poster.
Words by F LoBuono

Many people are familiar with the short story, The Most Dangerous Game. Written by Richard Connell, it was originally published in Collier's in 1924 under the title The Hounds of Zaroff. Those who are not acquainted with it as a work of fiction are most certainly so with its many adaptations seen in films and on TV.

The plot revolves around two main characters: so-called Big Game hunter, Sanger Rainsford,  and his host/antagonist, a Russian aristocrat named General Zaroff. Rainsford, on his way to hunt Jaguars in Rio, has been washed away from his vessel and finds shelter on a mysterious island. On the island he is shocked and amazed to find the castle of the Cossack, General Zaroff. At first, they appear to be kindred spirits. It seems that General Zaroff is a Big Game hunter, too. However, he is bored with the "normal" hunting fair. He has hunted and killed them all. Now, he wants something more challenging. And, he has found it in the shipwrecked sailors that he lures to his lair. Zaroff seems to have found the perfect prey in Ransford, an avid fellow hunter who should provide the type of thrilling pursuit the Cossack craves.

Zaroff knows that although man does not have huge fangs or tremendous power or the stealth of the other animals considered deadly, he does have the cunning that comes with our high-functioning brains. Zaroff understands that this is what makes MAN The Most Dangerous Game. Rainsford is given a knife, some clothing, food, and a three hour head start in the jungle. If he can survive for three days, Zaroff promises him his freedom. Of course, no one has survived so far. I'll leave out the rest of the details for those who may want to finish actually reading this wonderful - and, important - short story. It is wonderful because it is well written and exciting. It is important because it deals in depth with human nature.

If you will allow me, I would like to develop this premise a bit further. Our ability to THINK on the highest levels separates us from ALL other animals. Some would say that other high functioning animals like whales and dolphins, certainly within their environments, rival our ability to organize our thoughts for use in complex problem solving and esoteric concepts like empathy and compassion. But, certainly, no one dominates the earth like we do. In fact, we have so much so that WE are our own worst enemy! Therefore, we must temper our thoughts with the knowledge that with such great power also comes great responsibility. WE are the shepards of our own destinies! When we are "right minded", i.e. we think with clarity, governed by acceptance and love, we use our impressive brains to advance the world in a positive direction. When we don't, the consequences are dire.

Therefore, we need to add a qualifier to our original premise: The Most Dangerous Animal on the Planet is an IGNORANT Human Being.

And, unfortunately, we seem to have an unlimited supply of those. . .