The theme of "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell can be summarized as the distinction between humans and animals, the meaning of civilization, and the unreliability of sensation. The story explores several other themes as well, including:
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Hunters vs. the hunted: The relationship between the hunter and the hunted is a central theme in the story. At the beginning, Rainsford and Zaroff are presented as equals, both accomplished big-game hunters. However, as the story unfolds, their roles change, and Rainsford is thrust into the position of the hunted.
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Civilization and Community: The story challenges the idea that highbrow pastimes and aristocratic society are synonymous with being civilized or moral. Zaroffs actions, hunting human beings for sport, are not socially accepted, and he justifies them by claiming to have been liberated from "Victorian" sentiments about human life.
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Condoned Violence vs. Murder: Both Zaroff and Rainsford are former military men and avid hunters, participating in socially-condoned killing. However, Zaroff's hunting of human beings for sport is a kind of killing that is not socially accepted, contrasting with Rainsford's more "civilized" approach to hunting.
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Extreme Social Darwinism: Zaroff's game can be seen as a manifestation of extreme social Darwinism, where the strong prey on the weak for their own pleasure and survival. This theme is further emphasized by Zaroff's comparison of his game to warfare and the mention of the plight of the Cossacks, an ethnic group hunted and pushed out of Russia.
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Questioning of accepted logic: The story presents irony in the way Zaroff justifies his actions, similar to the irony present in the story as a whole. The theme of questioning accepted logic is explored through the characters' actions and motivations.
