According to Rainsford and General Zaroff in Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game," what is fear?

General Zaroff is the hunter and Rainsford is the prey in Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game." As a result, each one describes and/or experiences fear differently. The two men do not have a discussion about fear, but they do discuss hunting. General Zaroff doesn't seem to fear anything. For example, Rainsford asks him if a Cape buffalo had charged him before he killed it and Zaroff calmly says that it "Hurled me against a tree... Fractured my skull. But I got the brute." Rainsford is a bit shocked at Zaroff's nonchalance. Zaroff has hunted nearly every wild animal on earth and says that the thrill of the hunt eventually left and he became bored. It would seem that fear either doesn't exist in Zaroff's vocabulary, or the word "thrill" is the closest Zaroff comes to actually feeling it.

The topic of fear is not really felt by Rainsford until Zaroff hunts him. During the hunt, Rainsford reminds himself over and over again, "I must keep my nerve," as a way to stay off fear of losing his life. When Rainsford realizes Zaroff allows him to live another day simply for the sport of it, the text says, "Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror." The word "terror" suggests a more heightened sense of fear for one's life. Another time Rainsford feels afraid is after he attacks Zaroff with the Malay man-catcher. Zaroff's response causes Rainsford anxiety as follows:

He stood there, rubbing his injured shoulder, and Rainsford, with fear again gripping his heart, heard the general's mocking laugh ring through the jungle.

It isn't until after the third day that Zaroff may feel fear, although he is really good at not showing it. When Zaroff finds Rainsford in his room, he seems more startled than fearful when he screams "Rainsford... How in God's name did you get here?"

In conclusion, the only fear these men might be able to describe is the fear of losing their lives. They are men who are not used to feeling fear because they would be the ones to incite fear in others. General Zaroff uses the word "thrill" when discussing how he feels when faced with a wild animal, so his definition would include something where he feels an adrenaline rush. Rainsford, on the other hand, fears for his life as he is hunted. Another word used to define how he feels during the hunt is "terror," so his definition would include anything that makes him feel terrified for his life. In the end, both experience fear for their lives, but it seems these professional hunters only understand fear when their lives are truly threatened.