Methods Of Creating Suspense In The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell
“There is no fear in the bang, only in the anticipation of it” – Alfred Hitchcock. This is describing what is like leading up to it an event instead of the actual event. In Richard Connell's short story “The Most Dangerous Game” Rainsford's story is told with extreme suspense. Bransford is on a yacht and then falls off and stranded on an island where he needs General Zaroff. He stays with General until the general gives Rainsford a hunting knife and tells him that he has five hours head start until the general is going to hunt him. Through the use of imagery and foreshadowing Richard Connell creates suspense.
Richard Arnold uses foreshadowing in his short story “The Most Dangerous Game” to create suspense. When Rainsford is on the ship, then one of his friends and says “The old charts call it ship-trap Island” this is referring to the island they're passing by. This is showing that a lot of ships have crashed here and the same thing might happen to them. This creates uneasiness among to crew. The uneasiness among the crew affects everybody else. This makes fall off of the boat because he heard gunshots. Rainsford has just woken up because he passed out the night before from his long swim to the island. When he wakes up he notices a puddle of blood that he goes on to think” Some wounded thing – by the evidence, a large animal – had thrashed about in the underbrush.” This is hinting that there is some sort of hunting going on on the island. The large animal is foreshadowing because Rainsford is an excellent hunter and he does not recognize the animal. Then Rainsford spots a house and he walks to it when he knocks on the door someone opens the door and does not speak then General Zaroff comes to the door. When Richard Connell describes the general he says,” His eyes, too, were black and very bright” and his lips were red. This is creating General Zaroff with creepy looks this could be unsettling to Rainsford. Since he describes General Zaroff with pointy teeth and red lips and black teeth he could also be describing a predator animal. Richard Conell has foreshadowing throughout the story to create suspense.
Richard Connell builds suspense in his short story through the use of imagery. For example, after Rainsford loses his balance on the boat, he fell overboard and had a hard time staying afloat in the water, “The cry was pinched off short as the blood-warm waters of the Carribean Sea dosed over his head”. The author’s word choice hints that this is not just an ordinary island. This metaphor is referring to the Carribean Sea as feeling like the blood which is used as a sign of death or some kind of evil. Also, Rainsford is getting knocked around by the water and boat, when “The lights of the yacht became faint and ever-vanishing fireflies; they were blotted out entirely by the night”. The author is creating uncertainty about what is going to happen next since he cannot see what is in front of him. The lights fading away symbolizes how all of Rainsford’s hope is fading as well, creating the feeling of loneliness and wonder of what is to come next. Furthermore, Rainsford finally made it to shore when he ran into a strange person, “His smile showed red lips and pointy teeth”. The author is portraying General Zaroff almost vampire-like, which is a negative connotation. The smile is almost as if General Zaroff was the predator and he was looking at his prey, making the moment of intensity rise, not knowing what is to come of this man. The author can build suspense by describing what the main character is feeling and seeing.
Richard Connell creates suspense through the use of imagery and foreshadowing. the author uses foreshadowing that I can upgrade the overall level of this story or book. If an author can successfully use suspense in their story as Richard Connell did in the Most Dangerous Game.
