The Most Unrecognized Weapon

"God makes some men poets. Some, He makes kings, some beggars. Me-- He made a hunter.”- Richard Connell, The Most Dangerous Game

In Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game, we are first introduced to a group of passengers aboard a yacht that is Rio de Janeiro bound. A mysterious and perilous island is recognized by a passenger named Whitney, in which case she reveals to protagonist Rainsford. Later on, Rainsford meets with the island first hand as he accidently falls into the sea, is left by the yacht and is then forced to swim towards the island. There, he encounters a general with an obsessive love for the hunt named Zaroff and his deaf and blind accomplice, Ivan. The General, who is well aware of Rainsford hunting reputation, caters to Rainsford-- that is until Rainsford discovers the truth. The General makes a game out of hunting down people, a game he has grown bored with since he decides that people no longer pose a challenge. Rainsford who does not condone this wants to leave the island, but not only does The General reject this, he also makes Rainsford’s stay a game—if he can survive 3 days as prey, he will be set free. In the end, we find that The General is eaten by his own dogs or in fact beaten by his own game, while Rainsford sleeps comfortably.

In the quote provided, The General provides some logic into his love for the hunt by proclaiming this insightful message. To an extent, I believe he is right. God assigns gifts to everyone. Those with a natural talent and passion to write are deemed writers, some people are born into royalty. Because he was skilled at what he did, The General believed his gift was to hunt. While I hardly believe that he was given the gift to kill instinctively, I do believe this idea exposes something deeper.

A gift, if used effectively and if mastered, has the power to change lives and influence a society. Conversely, a gift that is abused or mastered with ill-intentions has the power to do just the same—but the results are likely to have a negative impact. The General’s gift was misused. The quote and the General’s overall character also reminded me that what one defines one’s self to be irrefutably shapes his/her life. If I were to tell myself every day “I’m a writer”, that would (and has) shape the direction of my life. Believed and practiced affirmations can determine what and who someone becomes. In broader yet simpler terms, a gift is a talent that becomes a weapon once recognized, yet it stands unrecognized for many.