The Most Dangerous Game

Posted by Seer 8 years, 4 months ago to Philosophy
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I wondered if any Gulchers had ever read this short story by Richard Connell. I read it (in my "younger days") and found it to be a thought provoking essay on human conflict and human nature. I wonder if the American vs Russian adversaries are allegorical as respects capitalism vs. communism.

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  • Posted by Seer 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    And I betcha The Donald is good at games of wit: "The Art of the Deal".
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  • Posted by Seer 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I just realized, mminnick, I saw it, and see it, as a "game of wits"---THE most dangerous game. And in any game of wits, it is your knowledge of the nature of your adversary that will determine the outcome.
    I suppose that is where "strategy" comes in.
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  • Posted by Seer 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Absolutely. I was interested in the nature of the "combatants". And still am. It would be a lifetime of study.
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  • Posted by mminnick 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    As a youth I enjoyed the adventure. As an adult I studied the strategy and tactics and operation art associated with each of the adversaries both in the story and the movies inspired by the story.
    It does delve into the motivations and psychology of antagonists and combatants. Remains a good story even in todays world.
    +1
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  • Posted by Seer 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    That's one way to look at it. I am assuming you are a man; you said you enjoyed the adventure of it. I enjoyed what I thought of as strategy, or the reasoning behind the game between the hunter and the hunted. I always thought I would want to elaborate on the ending to include Zaroff trying different means to escape the hunter Rainsford, and not just being shot at the end.
    Sort of a Divine Justice.
    What it implies about human nature, masculine nature, to be more precise, is priceless. The challenge and the risk-taking become a fulfillment in itself. In some ways, like any competitive endeavor, the competition becomes the end, if one is not careful.
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  • Posted by mminnick 8 years, 4 months ago
    I also read it in my yuouth. At the time I didn't think of the deeper philosophical points of the story, just enjoyed the adventure of it. I think it has even been made into a movie or served as the basis for a movie.
    What I take from it today is there is slways someone ready to make others their servant or victim. Occasionally the role gets reversered and the servant/victim becomes the master. In that case they usually become a carbon copy of the original master. This applies to societies as well as individuals.
    +1
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