Analysis of "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell

Literature contains an interesting plot that should include a situation between two things, which is called conflict. Conflict is a very important element in literature. In Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” the main character goes through many conflicts to survive. In Richard Wright’s “The Rights to the Streets of Memphis” a boy named Richard is kicked out of his house to buy the groceries, but a gang tries to beat him up on the way. The boy has to build up his courage and face the gang.

In both Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” and Richard Wright’s “The Rights to the Streets of Memphis”, there are important internal and external conflicts throughout the story that are being created as the characters try to survive. Being washed up on a mysterious island and getting hunted down by crazy man are some examples of conflict in “The Most Dangerous Game”. “Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine.

Your strength and stamina against mine” (Connell 74). This quote from the story shows the external conflict between Rainsford and General Zaroff.

The General is challenging him to a battle to the death. “The cat was coming again to play with the mouse” (Connell 77). This shows how the General is like the predator hunting down its prey. Rainsford is trying his best to survive. “Only the devil himself could follow that complicated trail through the jungle after dark” (Connell 76). This quote is an example of the conflict that Rainsford is going through with the jungle.

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This is an example of man vs. nature. Rainsford is thinking that the jungle is very hard to navigate through, which is an obstacle.

The main conflict in this story is Rainsford trying to survive. Getting beat up can teach you a couple of lessons. In “The Rights to the Streets of Memphis” the main character goes through a few conflicts. The poor little boy named Richard gets kicked out of his house to buy the groceries, but a gang gets in his way. The boy’s mother states “Go on and don’t pay any attention to them” (Wright 121). The mother is trying to her son into a grown up. She wants him to stand up for himself. This shows the love she has for Richard. “If these boys bother you, then fight” (Wright 121).

Richard’s mother has no other choice but to let him fight, otherwise he will act as a little boy for the rest of his life. This is an example of external conflict because Richard is going to fight the other kids. “Don’t you come into this house until you’ve gotten those groceries” (Wright 121). This is an example of internal conflict because Richard has a choice of either staying home and get beat by his mother, or to go fight the gang. Richard found that the best way is to fight the gang and stand up for himself. In both of these conflicts, Richard is trying to survive.

Conflict is a very important literary element in both of these short stories. It is one of the many literary elements that play a major role in a story’s plot by creating a complication between two things. Both Rainsford and Richard had to choose whether they want to survive or not. Rainsford survives by fighting back. Richard also learns that he needs to fight back. In both Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” and Richard Wright’s “The Rights to the Streets of Memphis” conflict is a vital element that challenges the characters to survive.