The Man and the Beast

Andrew Janni
Whitney awoke and stepped onto the deck of the yacht. He yawned, stretched, and went
to go find Rainsford. A light rain began to fall painting circles on the waves, and drumming
softly on the boat.
"Rainsford." Whitney called. He received no answer, but a solemn sight met him.
Rainsford's cap was floating on the waves.
Whitney's gasp frightened the captain, who joined him on the deck.
"What happened?" asked the captain.
Rainsford just pointed a solemn finger towards the ocean.
"I knew that island was bad news."
As the boat finally arrived in the Island, Whitney scanned the shore, but he saw nothing
but trees. He began his search. He cut away at the branches that were reaching out to scratch his
face.
"Rainsford!"
The wind whistled in the trees.
"Rainsford"
Whitney looked around, he began to be discouraged but something unexpected caught his
eye two wooden doors were standing tall behind the trees. The door opened. Rainsford stood in
the opening of a well-lit cavern with posh wood decor. Its extravagance set in opposition to the
wilderness was an awe-inspiring sight. Perhaps more impressive than building or the forest was
Rainsford. He had the natural aura of a predator, but the authority of the most civilized
businessman. Rainsford was a hunter, a perfect balance between man and beast.
"It is a very great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Whitney, the celebrated hunter, to
my home."

"You're alive Rainsford, how."

"The forest is my niche, Whitney. I am a hunter."
"What game lies on this island?"
"That depends, Whitney, on who the hunter is."
"You're a big-game hunter, not a philosopher."
"I'm a man, Whitney, and after falling into the ocean; I learned a great lot about what that
means. A man is only civilized when he has, but when he needs, he is a beast. I was made a beast
and a saw man from the perspective of a beast. I met a man on this island who had hunted beast
after beast and won. Hunting no longer presented a challenge or enjoyment to him whatsoever.
What he had realized is that the only creature difficult to hunt is the one that hunts you. I was that
creature, Whitney, I was the only game that could possibly evade the hunter, however, I did
something far more challenging than just escape.
You dont mean you
I had no choice."
You could have just fled the island. Lets return home now.
I cannot. There is unfinished business here. There is more game to be hunted.
Rainsford took of running and didnt look back. Whitney followed. Both men were
panting and sweating, but they continued to run. The forest scratched their arms and legs.
Rainsford stopped and stared at a prison. Rainsford stopped and stared at the prison as he had
every day since killing the hunter. He had thoughts of hunting for the prisoners. He questioned
whether or not their life had any value. He saw that they were dying in the prison anyway. He
saw no way to save them either.
Rainsford. said Whitney.

Whitneys voice brought back memories of a previous conversation between the two.
What if the leopard doesnt want to be hunted., the voice resounded in his head when he
looked at Whitneys face. He remembered what hunting meant, that hunting was a means a
survival at its core, but it still was a sport. It had become enjoyable and not necessary. However
the beasts he considered hunting felt no enjoyment. This notion touched him, and the reason in
him pushed past the bloodlust of the beast he had become. He stepped towards the door of the
prison and unlocked the door.
Rainsford grabbed Whitneys hand and sprinted towards the ocean, to the waters that had
brought him to the island, and provided an escape from Zaroff. He plunged into the water once
more.

The Most Dangerous Game is a story that covers many topics and uses an array of
different stylistic writing techniques. The sequel that I wrote mimics these characteristics.
The most prominent theme is civilization vs. nature. This theme encompasses many
aspects of the story, from the contrast of the extravagance of General Zaroffs palace and the
wilderness of the island, to the internal struggle of instincts vs. reason that Rainsford has as
Zaroff chases him.

I explore these themes in the text highlighted in blue. Two examples of this are a man is
only civilized when he has, but when he needs, he is a beast and This notion touched him, and
the reason in him pushed past the bloodlust of the beast he had become. .The internal struggle is
not one of survival for Rainsford after he kills General Zaroff, but one of overcoming the
bloodlust he had after killing Zaroff. I also continue to explore the symbolism of the palace to the
forest.
The main writing technique that the author uses is foreshadowing. She uses this in
dialogue between Zaroff and Rainsford to imply that there is something evil about Zaroff before
he explains his hunting game. He also uses this by suggesting that Rainsford killed Zaroff by
saying He had never slept in a better bed.
I highlighted the use of foreshadowing in my sequel in red. two examples are: I did
something far more challenging than just escape. and plunged into the water once more.
I use the dialogue to foreshadow Rainsford preparing to act on his desires to hunt men. I
also use foreshadowing when the fate of Rainsford is revealed to Whitney by showing his cap in
the ocean implying he went overboard. I also imply that Rainsford and Whitney leave the island
but dont say it outright, just as the author leaves us with an implied decision on Rainsfords part.