The Most Dangerous Game

               Connell utilizes imagery and rapid pacing to generate tension.  One could not read through “The Most Dangerous Game” without being disturbed by a character’s action or an action they take.  A rapid succession of such actions provides for a tense story.

                Connell fabricates provocative imagery to provoke tension in readers.  After conversing, General Zaroff invites Rainsford to see his “’new collection of heads’” (20).  With General Zaroff collecting human heads, an arousing emotion develops while reading about Rainsford’s struggle for survival during the game.  One receives a horrible mental picture of what would happen to Rainsford if he were to lose to General Zaroff.  Further, there is no option for Rainsford not to play the game.  After asking what the penalty is for not playing, Rainsford receives a blood chilling answer from General Zaroff, who subtly implies that gruesome torture will be dealt.  One inwardly pleads for Rainsford to flee from the tower until they remember “’the dogs’” (19).  The reader’s heart begins to throb as their protagonist has no option but to face a nerve-spiking game that could lead to his death.  Such moments of helplessness evoke heart wrenching tension that compels readers to read the story to the end.

                As the purpose of the island is slowly revealed, events begin to occur at gut-hacking pace to create suspense.  General Zaroff’s motives gradually unravel, and the island’s secret is unveiled to create a startling realization for both Rainsford and the reader.  Finding out that General Zaroff prefers hunting humans because they “’have courage, cunning, and, above all …reason’” ( 19) and that General Zaroff uses the island for this pleasure, readers shudder as they find Rainsford becoming a part of the island’s secret.  One wishes that Rainsford had never smoked on his yacht so he would not have fallen into the water only to find the island.  Now the readers deal with the reality that Rainsford will have to try to survive his uncanny predicament.  Tense situations begin to rapidly unfold as Rainsford constructs various traps and unsuccessfully hides in a tree.  The word “’nerve, nerve, nerve’” (23) is repeated at the last moment when Rainsford desperately flees with nothing for defense from General Zaroff and his hounds.  For the readers, hope seems to be lost.  The peak of suspense has been reached, and a craving for discovering the conclusion is fierce.  The rapid succession of events provides for a suspenseful story that taunts the readers to read more. 

                As the story winds to a finish, the readers breathe deeply.  It takes several moments to recover from the tension provided through provocative imagery and rapid pacing.  Based on these techniques used to write the story, it feels like you are actually running alongside Rainsford during his dramatic adventure.