The Lottery and the Most Dangerous Game - Literature review Example

The various themes that the authors deal with in their respective prose include the theme of death and hunting, human decay and deterioration, man versus nature and importance of tradition or cultural heritage. Moreover, it provides the reader with keen insight into the mindset of the two authors who observe the degeneration of human morals and values and present their personal interpretation. The various themes that the authors deal with in their respective prose include the theme of death and hunting, human decay and deterioration, man versus nature and importance of tradition or cultural heritage.

Moreover, it provides the reader with keen insight into the mindset of the two authors who observe the degeneration of human morals and values and present their personal interpretation.A theme of Death and Hunting The theme of death and hunting in the story “The Most Dangerous Game” denotes not only the game of the predator and the prey but also shows degeneration where the life of any living creature either man or an animal holds no importance. This also reflects on the height of disillusionment that is present in the modern man who has lost his sensitivity and has turned into a heartless robotic creature whose sole purpose in this world is to live for his personal pleasures and assume that his fellow creatures are his chattel.

As it is apparent from General Zaroff’s behavior who enjoys hunting men as he states his idea of an ideal prey that, “…What are the attributes of an ideal quarry? And the answer was, of course, It must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason.” (p. 10). However, the writer also provides the reasons that led to the development of such an inhuman behavior i.e. the war as the General he cannot believe that Rainford still has a soft heart even after the war.

So it is observed that although the writer detests the decaying state of human beings yet he also highlights the circumstances that led to that decay.