The Most Dangerous Essay

Abstract
This essay examines the villains from “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and “The Destructors” by Graham Green. By comparison and contrast, it is found that Trevor and General Zaroff possess different temperaments and behavioral traits, and yet have many similarities in method, background, and morality. Both villains are motivated by boredom and a need to express their superiority. 

The Most Dangerous Essay

Many parallels can be drawn from “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and “The Destructors” by Graham Greene, especially between Trevor and General Zaroff. Both of them are flat characters and both are the villains of the stories in which they reside. Trevor is the protagonist of “The Destructors” and General Zaroff is the antagonist of “The Most Dangerous Game.” Trevor and General Zaroff posses different temperaments and behavioral traits, and yet have many similarities in method, background, and morality. Both villains are motivated by boredom and a need to express their superiority.
General Zaroff is an older, white-haired gentleman who is affable, hospitable, and good natured, while Trevor is a young gang member who is brooding and silent. General Zaroff is a hunter, and as such is a man of action – he enjoys the chase, the hunt. The boy prefers to sit quietly while planning and scheming. Trevor does not show even “the smallest flicker of glee” (Greene, 1954), while Zaroff openly shows his amusement with the game by smiling when he finds Rainsford in a tree, and by verbally stating his pleasure (Connell, n.d.). When the unexpected happens and Mr. Thomas returns early, Trevor panics and begins to repeatedly say, “I’ll fix it” (Greene, 1954), which almost costs him his position of leadership with the gang. General Zaroff is nonchalant, albeit disappointed, when Rainsford escapes; he sits down, smokes, drinks some wine, and hums a tune from Madame Butterfly (Connell, n.d.). Despite these obvious differences in personality, these characters both pursue a dark path in life.
Both villains come from a well-to-do background, and despite their affluent upbringing, both have a false sense of morality. In the midst of destroying Mr. Thomas’ home, Trevor says, “We aren’t thieves” (Greene, 1954), and likewise the hunter reassures Rainsford that his word is trustworthy (Connell, n.d.) all the while preparing to hunt him down. Zaroff even attributes his hunting prowess to being a gift from God. Both of these characters feed their captives, as if that somehow justifies the heinous crimes that they are committing. Zaroff shows concern for Rainsford’s health just moments before announcing his intent to hunt him. While leading Mr. Thomas into a trap, Trevor aids him in climbing over the wall and even supports him when he stumbles. The lives of others mean little to either of these characters – to Trevor, Mr. Thomas’ home and personal effects are “just things” (Greene, 1954), and to General Zaroff, the people he hunts and murders are simply the “scum of the earth” (Connell, n.d.); General Zaroff truly believes he is doing the world a favor by killing them.
Trevor and Zaroff both have accomplices for their evil tasks; the first has his gang, and the latter has his pack of dogs and Ivan. While Trevor keeps the details of his plans secret from his victim, and tells his gang only on a need-to-know basis, General Zaroff gives his entire scheme in great detail to Rainsford. Likewise, both of them hide what they are doing from the authorities. When Trevor was asked about the police he replied, “They’d never know. We’d do it from the inside” (Greene, 1954). The General cleverly hides away on an island in order to maintain his murderous lifestyle, and even warns Rainsford against telling the outside world of his existence.
As the destruction of Mr. Thomas’ home commences, Trevor says that he is ‘looking for something special” (Greene, 1954), something out of the ordinary. This activity is already far from the normal for the gang, but for Trevor this thrill is not enough. He not only burns Mr. Thomas’ money just for fun, but also pulls down the walls of the home in what is called “the most dangerous task of all” (Greene, 1954). Zaroff, too, is looking for something different, more challenging. Having already invented his sport of hunting humans, his “most dangerous game,” he is once again bored, and finds that Rainsford offers a newer, more thrilling form of entertainment. Both villains are also striving for superiority; Trevor is seeking to be the leader of his gang, and General Zaroff wants to be the greatest hunter.
Even though these characters are found in separate stories written by different authors, the similarities between General Zaroff and Trevor are striking. And, despite the superficial variation in their dispositions, analysis of their stories shows that the common drive behind their reprobate actions is a mixture of boredom and a need for superiority.
 
References
Connell, R. (n.d.). The most dangerous game. Liberty University Online. Retrieved May 24,
2010 from Course Content English 102.
Greene, G. (1954). The destructors. Liberty University Online. Retrieved May 24, 2010 from
Course Content English 102.