The Most Dangerous Game Response

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    In the story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, colors are used to set various moods in the story, as well as to make the character’s experience more palpable.

    The first example of this occurs at the very beginning of the story, when Whitney and Rainsford are discussing the mysterious island. As Rainford strains for a glimpse of the island, he is described to be “trying to peer through the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness in upon the yacht” (p 1). In this example the color used is “black”, but the writing would not be as effective in creating an engaging setting if the color were not used along with other descriptive phrases such as “thick warm blackness” and the verb “pressed”. This creates the feeling of an environment so dark and humid that it feels suffocating, and so pitch black that it is like trying to see through a translucent curtain where there is nothing but air. Rainsford later describes the night as “moist black velvet” (p 1), which creates an image of an opaque, damp setting. After Whitney leaves and Rainsford moves closer to the rail, looking for the island is described to be “like trying to see through a blanket” (p 3). This simile adds on to the set of phrases relating to the color “black” that add to the story.

    Another example that stands out is when Rainsford meets General Zaroff. His facial features are described very specifically: “...his hair was a vivid white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed military moustache were as black as the night… His eyes too, were black and very bright.” The striking contrast of his features represents his unstable personality. He appears to be charming and elegant, especially when he invites Rainsford into his home and says, “It is a very great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Sanger Rainsford, the celebrated hunter, to my home.” (p 5) But when Zaroff begins describing what he does on the island, his deranged side, one that lacks empathy and emotion, is revealed. “The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth…” he says (p 10).

    A third example is the use of the color blue near the end of the story. As Rainsford ran from Zaroff and the hounds, “A blue gap showed between the trees dead ahead.” The calming blue of the ocean is likely a welcome contrast to the green and brown tones he has been surrounded by for nearly three days, and the menacing blackness that enveloped him every night. The color blue represents hope, because it provides a means of escape for Rainsford, who the hounds are quickly gaining on. As it turns out, Rainsford manages to avoid death by jumping into the ocean, and although the story’s ending is very open-ended, it is clear that had Rainsford not jumped off of the cliff, he would be dead.

    Connell's use of colors to set a mood in the story is important in a story with a subject as dark as the one in The Most Dangerous Game. A reader can never fully experience the events that occur in a story, but descriptive language can help evoke similar feelings.