Conflict Between The Most Dangerous Game And Porphyria's Lover

Intro “From the beginning men used God to justify the unjustifiable.” -Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses. Salman Rushdie points are truly stated and are seen in literature work. The two stories “The Most Dangerous Game” and “Porphyria’s Lover”, both portray the characters, General Zaroff and Porphyria’s Lover, as murderers who think they have done nothing wrong. The authors Connell and Browning use conflict and characterization to convey that some find it easy to justify murder.

DP 1 Through the use of external conflict between Zaroff and Rainsford’s hunting prowess, and Porphyria’s Lover strangling Porphyria, the authors show how each can easily justify murder.

Zaroff is talking to Rainsford about his past and the island he lives on.

DP 2 Through the use of direct characterization Zaroff and Porphyria's Lover are portrayed as evil and cold-hearted killers.

Zaroff tells Rainsford what he does on the island “for fun”. He calls it a game as if it will be fun for both sides and everybody will be happy afterward. Zaroff: “‘It's a game, you see,’ pursued the general blandly. ‘I suggest to one of them that we go hunting. I give him a supply of food and an excellent hunting knife. I give him three hours' start. I am to follow, armed only with a pistol of the smallest caliber and range. If my quarry eludes me for three whole days, he wins the game. If I find him ‘--the general smiled--’ he loses.’" (Pg 35), Rainsford: “‘We try to be civilized here.’ (Zaroff) “Civilized? And you shoot down men?’ (Rainsford)” (Pg 35) “‘General,’ said Rainsford firmly, ‘I wish to leave this island at once.’” (Pg 36) Zaroff thinks because it is “a game” that he can justify murder. He gives them supplies and a head start so it is “fair” when he comes to hunt them with a gun. He claims that one can win or lose in the “game” when no one has ever beaten him. Zaroff takes people from the “Spanish bark San Lucar” and calls them “Poor specimens and more accustomed to the deck the to the jungle.” Zaroff thinks that he is a higher class human than them because

“I propped her head up as before, Only, this time my shoulder bore Her head, which droops upon it still: The smiling rosy little head,” (Lines 49-52) “And all night long we have not stirred, And yet God has not said a word!” (Lines 59-60). Porphyria’s Lover, strangles his beloved Porphyria, just to make sure that they stay in love forever? Except How does a relationship work if one of the people is dead? This directly shows that Porphyria’s Lover is a horrible person, who cannot understand why he killed Porphyria. The speaker also states that “God has not said a word!” which relates to the quote, “From the beginning men used God to justify the unjustifiable.” -Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses. The speaker is using God to justify the fact that it is okay that he killed his beloved because God hasn’t done or said anything to him. Furthermore, the direct characterization of General Zaroff and Porphyria’s Lover show what gruesome and evil people they