Nicole Greenberg

Mrs. Ying
English 9 CP/H, Period 2
11 November 2014
Uncivilized Characteristics
How can an individual provide hospitality while displaying uncivilized characteristics? In the
story The Most Dangerous Game, by Richard Connell describes a character named General
Zaroff who is hospitable to his guests, yet his actions afterward display a murderous nature
which imply that he is uncivilized. His expression of sympathy is false as for the fact that he
hunts his guests which shows his inhumane character. Despite the fact that an individual can
portray sympathetic characteristics, it does not suggest that they have the opposite characteristics
nor does it show that the sympathy is real. Although, General Zaroff expresses sympathy by
providing hospitality to his guests, he is uncivilized because his murderous nature influences him
to hunt humans for his pleasure.
General Zaroff is uncivilized because he expresses a cruel nature. His murderous nature is
supposedly what challenges him and is his view on the human world: If he does not wish to
hunt, I turn him over to Ivan. Ivan once had the honor of serving as official knouter to the Great
White Tsar, and he has his own ideas of sport (Connell 16). By stating that General Zaroff
provides two murderous options suggests that he has a murderous perspective on human nature.
Instead of providing these innocent people or guests with fair options which a moral character
might do, the general only provided two unfair options which demonstrates his murderous
character. Generals perspective on human life is unusual and unfair therefore proving his vicious

nature. Even though the general is considerate of his guests, his murderous nature influences
negative outcomes: I treat these visitors with very consideration.[]They get into splendid
physical condition(Connell 15).General Zaroffs statement shows his supposed consideration
for his visitors which implies that the only reason he does this is to pose a challenge for himself
in hunting these people. Rather than showing real thoughtfulness, Zaroff demonstrates this
deliberation for his benefit or pleasure. Zaroff poses a challenge for himself by providing these
people with necessary supplies that will increase their abilities but does this for his inhumane
character that desires pleasure.
General Zaroffs vicious nature eventually influences him to hunt humans without reason or
purpose. Human hunting provides him with the most exciting pleasure which rephrases to a
murderous nature: It supplies me with the most exciting hunting in the world. No other hunting
compares with it for an instant (Connell 14). Even though general considers himself a moral or
no murderous person, most people, like Rainsford would consider him inhumane and murderous.
Zaroffs statement to show his passion for hunting humans implies that he is eager and excited to
complete this task. Once again, Zaroffs perspective on human life or what he is doing is moral
to him: The general laughed with entire good nature. [] Did not make me condone coldblooded murder, finished Rainsford, stiffly9(Connell 14) Rainsfords statement to show
General Zaroffs perspective on hunting humans shows that he is trying to prove or tell that what
he is doing is not moral.
Unfortunately, due to General Zaroffs brutal nature, he hunts humans for his benefit. This
relates to society because people tend to have a different perspective on what is civilized or
uncivilized which results in various ways of living. All other individuals will therefore consider
that individual immoral.