The essay : MDG

     Connell employs foreshadowing to increase anxiety. If you're a sucker for suspenseful stories you will highly appreciate Connell's ability to use foreshadowing excessively, yet it continues to do its job. The Most Dangerous Game contains a vast amount of the foreshadowing technique to nurture its emphasized element of suspense.
  
     After Rainsford stumbles upon a secluded island, he meets General Zaroff. At first Rainsford is delighted to know that he isn't alone, then he begins to feel eerie. Yes, friendliness is appealing, but in this case General Zaroff pushes it past its limit interrupting his own train of thought saying, "'Come,' he said, 'we should be chatting here. We can talk later. Now you want clothes, food, rest. You shall have them. This is a most-restful spot'" (17). Not only is Connell foreshadowing how life at his mansion will not be, he's using sarcasm to hint to the reader that Rainsford will not feel rested while at Zaroff's house. Especially because the General will force Rainsford to play the game with his "new sensation"(18). Such sarcasm leads the reader asking himself, "what will happen to Rainsford these next few days?" Likewise, the author continues to use foreshadowing to urge the reader to ponder the outcome. General Zaroff kept stating that his hunting skills were too mature to be used on animals, he was past hunting such things, but would not tell Rainsford what it is that he hunted now. The only feedback the General would give Rainsford was that he "had to invent a new animal to hunt" (18). Now, it is not possible for Zaroff to create a new animal from the ground.This implies that he took something that was not an animal and transformed it, in his mind, to be an animal. Whatever this new creature is, Zaroff demands it "must have courage, cunning, and above all it must be able to reason" (19). Foreshadowing is an ideal technique to create and maintain suspense throughout a story.

     Moreover, The Most Dangerous Game's foreshadowing frenzy prolongs! General Zaroff tells Rainsford about how he hunts men, which leaves Rainsford appalled. Rainsford places the spotlight on Zaroff, who then attempts to make his game seem better than it really is: "I treat these visitors with every consideration. They get plenty of food and exercise. They get into splendid physical condition. You shall see for yourself tomorrow" (19). There is not an aspect of Zaroff's game that is fun for his opponent. Rainsford is not impressed with General Zaroff and believes he is insane. Lastly, foreshadowing extends a bit further to provide a hint which is aimed at the end of the story. Rainsford knows that if he chooses not to hunt he will be killed immediately and realizes his chances of surviving against General Zaroff are high. Simply, Rainsford asks,"and if they [referring to Zaroff's opponent] win?" (19). This question is so subtle and seems unnecessary, until the closing when Rainsford returns to the mansion and kills Zaroff. Rainsford then decides "he had never slept in a better bed" (23).

     Connell presents many cases of utilizing foreshadowing, which guarantees a reader to be on edge throughout the entire story. Even though The Most Dangerous Game possesses an immense amount of foreshadowing, it still stirs apprehensive feelings within the reader. Richard Connell definitely succeeded in applying foreshadowing to make the reader feel anxious about the most dangerous game.