Calm
No compassion. Doesn't think their lives mean anything.
Ivan greets Rainsford by showing him to his room at the beginning of the story. Ivan does not verbally greet Rainsford, but instead silently leads him to his quarters.
Yes, at the beginning of the story "The Most Dangerous Game," Rainsford believes that animals lack the capacity for feelings and emotions, and therefore he sees nothing wrong with hunting them for sport. He only begins to empathize with their experience once he becomes the prey himself.
Connell includes the philosophical discussion between Whitney and Rainsford at the beginning of the story to set the tone and introduce the themes of morality and humanity that will be explored throughout the rest of the narrative. It also serves to establish the characters' differing viewpoints on the value of life, which foreshadows the challenges Rainsford will face later in the story.
Rainsford sails by island (start of story) Rainsford reaches island (fell from boat) Zaroff hunts Rainsford (action of the story) Rainsford eludes Zaroff (end of story) (alternatively - in the first half of the story) Rainsford falls off the boat. Rainsford meets Ivan. Rainsford meets Zaroff. The hunt begins.
Rainsford's friend Whitney believes that (A. animals feel fear, B. animals don't feel fear) . His views are (A, the opposite of, B. in agreement with) Rainsford's. However, Rainsford eventually changes his views about the hunted when he himself is hunted.
Rainsford sails by island (start of story) Rainsford reaches island (fell from boat) Zaroff hunts Rainsford (action of the story) Rainsford eludes Zaroff (end of story) (alternatively - in the first half of the story) Rainsford falls off the boat. Rainsford meets Ivan. Rainsford meets Zaroff. The hunt begins.
Rainsford sails by island (start of story) Rainsford reaches island (fell from boat) Zaroff hunts Rainsford (action of the story) Rainsford eludes Zaroff (end of story) (alternatively - in the first half of the story) Rainsford falls off the boat. Rainsford meets Ivan. Rainsford meets Zaroff. The hunt begins.
At the beginning of the story, Rainsford believed hunting was just a game. After being hunted himself by General Zaroff, he now knows the fear and desperation of being the prey, which changes his perspective on hunting entirely.
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell features minor characters such as Whitney, who serves as Rainsford's companion at the beginning of the story, Ivan, the silent and menacing servant of General Zaroff, and the sailors from the ship that Rainsford falls off of at the start of the story.
In "The Most Dangerous Game," Rainsford does not have a conflict with the character of Whitney. Whitney, Rainsford's hunting companion at the beginning of the story, shares a mutual understanding and respect for the sport of hunting. Their conversation reflects a camaraderie and similar perspective on the ethics of hunting, contrasting sharply with Rainsford's later conflict with General Zaroff.
William Stephen Rainsford has written: 'The story of a varied life' 'A preacher's story of his work'