Adaptation In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” Charles Darwin and his belief of natural selection has led to many debates for evolution and adaptation specialists for the phrase of “survival of the fittest.” This is not meant to be a praise for the strongest, biggest, meanest, or even the largest in numerical population, but for the mental variations that can lead them to survive when others cannot. Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” proves a simplified explanation of Darwinism by comparing two hunters pitted against each other trying to survive the other. These two men are similar minded, physically-like, and experienced going against each other on an island where one has more knowledge of to prove the drastic measures another will …show more content…
His mentality was stuck the old order of society from when he was at war compared to the New World. This is proven in the lack of adaptation in clothing for the Caribbean environment such as his formal dressing, squire attire, servant(s) and even his home with all the comforts attached. Thompson believes that instead of adapting “General Zaroff stubbornly refused to change his mindset—or even his wardrobe—and he thus sentences himself to extinction” (Thompson 206). He does not conform to the new ideals, like the dire wolf and other animals, and instead continues with his mentality that he has the right to do whatever he wants like he did in Russia. This then causes him to lose his variation that Darwin believes allows other to survive change. It is Thompson’s thought that without adapting to his new surroundings, Zaroff no longer has the ability to live in the new world he has pushed himself …show more content…
Although one can argue that Zaroff didn’t have to adapt over the hunt like Rainsford because of his in-depth knowledge of the island; we see his adaptation to his new life from old Russia. While both men are similar in many aspects, as is the same for many evolutions of certain species, it is their differences that allow one to survive further that the other. Zaroff is a man stuck in the glory days of when he had everything without working for it, compare to Rainsford how worked for what he has and choose to adapt to the worlds changes. Which a changing world one must learn to go with them to survive at full potential unless they wish to become extinct. Many are not able to adapt, like Zaroff, because they aren’t flexible mentally and prefer the way things where before. In the story, it is shown that Zaroff is complacent in his ways because of what he is used to, unlike the other’s fast thinking mind when forced into a new situation. Following Darwin’s theory and Thompson’s explication of both men in comparison it is certain that with men like Zaroff, they will become stagnate and extinct when pitted with those like Rainsford and his ability to adapt to his surroundings. “Survival of the fittest” is not of those who are stronger but for those who are smarter in

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Adaptation In Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game

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