Hunting or Baseball
How does your family get their food? Most people would get in their car, and drive to a grocery store and pick up whatever they needed. Some people actually hunt for their meat, but in America that number seems almost insignificant. Whether it is your own personal reason, what you’ve grown up with, or religion more than likely everyone has their own opinion on meat. I have chosen to be a vegetarian for the last five years due to the current
inhumanity in our meat processing system. While some people solely hunt for the purpose of survival, which is necessary, others view it as a game or sport—two completely different reasons. When authors use the subject of hunting or related activities in their writing, it can persuade readers to like or dislike a character. Rainsford, from Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game”, was a big game hunter. He hunted for fun and attacked the animals gruesomely. However, Santiago from Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea was a long-time fisherman. He viewed the sea as his home, and respected all who lived there. He didn’t fish for fun, but as a way to make a living to survive. Rainsford and Santiago were both hunters, but for
different reasons. Santiago respected his prey and took careful measures to make sure it died with dignity, while Rainsford wanted to dominate.
Rainsford seemed to put himself at the top of the food chain. It wasn’t until after he caught himself in a sticky situation when he became hunted, he
cared about how the animals felt. Before going out hunting he had asked his companion, “Who cares how a jaguar feels?”(60). He had no sympathy towards the animals he was killing, and viewed them as less. Rainsford mentioned that hunting was a sport. Something as innocent as a game of baseball. He wasn’t sloppy with his way of killing, but not out of respect either. He was a big game hunter, and indeed hunting was a big game to him.
Santiago talked to the large marlin he was battling for days. Comforted and cared. After many long days, he still didn’t rush. He knew it had feelings,
and had been though a lot. When Santiago was close to the end of this war he said, “Fish, I love you and respect you very much”(54). He saw not only his prized fish as equal, but the whole sea. One day while he was out on the water, a bird flew by and he spoke to it and asked many questions. He cared for the well-being of all living creatures. Hunting to him was a lifestyle, not a mere sport. Although he still killed the marlin, which in the end got eaten by sharks, he only did it so he could live. He ate and sold all the fish he caught, and without that he would have nothing. When things got rough he still honored the marlin, “I’ll stay with you until I am dead”(52). Santiago had so much love for the fish he wouldn’t leave with the job half done. He was patient and strived to be perfect.
Although Rainsford clearly didn’t respect the animals he hunted, they both showed extreme strength in what they did. Being hunted for days would
definitely take its toll. Towards the end of the story he realized that what he had been doing for so long wasn’t right. Likewise, being stuck on a boat for a couple days battling a humongous fish would be pretty tiresome too. Through their enormous struggles both showed perseverance. Withstanding tortuous events with care and precision, they learned new things about themselves. Santiago defeated the largest fish he had ever seen, and Rainsford completely rethought his actions.
Today in society we have put ourselves before our Earth. We perceive man as an invincible creature that nothing can harm. Rainsford took for granted all of the beautiful life forms on this planet, and manipulated them to prove he was the greatest hunter. However Santiago saw that the marlin was much more powerful, and just as wise as him. He knew what danger such animal can hold. Looking overall how Santiago lived should be a goal in our lives. To animals, or just being nice to people around us. Respect is key.
How does your family get their food? Most people would get in their car, and drive to a grocery store and pick up whatever they needed. Some people actually hunt for their meat, but in America that number seems almost insignificant. Whether it is your own personal reason, what you’ve grown up with, or religion more than likely everyone has their own opinion on meat. I have chosen to be a vegetarian for the last five years due to the current
inhumanity in our meat processing system. While some people solely hunt for the purpose of survival, which is necessary, others view it as a game or sport—two completely different reasons. When authors use the subject of hunting or related activities in their writing, it can persuade readers to like or dislike a character. Rainsford, from Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game”, was a big game hunter. He hunted for fun and attacked the animals gruesomely. However, Santiago from Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea was a long-time fisherman. He viewed the sea as his home, and respected all who lived there. He didn’t fish for fun, but as a way to make a living to survive. Rainsford and Santiago were both hunters, but for
different reasons. Santiago respected his prey and took careful measures to make sure it died with dignity, while Rainsford wanted to dominate.
Rainsford seemed to put himself at the top of the food chain. It wasn’t until after he caught himself in a sticky situation when he became hunted, he
cared about how the animals felt. Before going out hunting he had asked his companion, “Who cares how a jaguar feels?”(60). He had no sympathy towards the animals he was killing, and viewed them as less. Rainsford mentioned that hunting was a sport. Something as innocent as a game of baseball. He wasn’t sloppy with his way of killing, but not out of respect either. He was a big game hunter, and indeed hunting was a big game to him.
Santiago talked to the large marlin he was battling for days. Comforted and cared. After many long days, he still didn’t rush. He knew it had feelings,
and had been though a lot. When Santiago was close to the end of this war he said, “Fish, I love you and respect you very much”(54). He saw not only his prized fish as equal, but the whole sea. One day while he was out on the water, a bird flew by and he spoke to it and asked many questions. He cared for the well-being of all living creatures. Hunting to him was a lifestyle, not a mere sport. Although he still killed the marlin, which in the end got eaten by sharks, he only did it so he could live. He ate and sold all the fish he caught, and without that he would have nothing. When things got rough he still honored the marlin, “I’ll stay with you until I am dead”(52). Santiago had so much love for the fish he wouldn’t leave with the job half done. He was patient and strived to be perfect.
Although Rainsford clearly didn’t respect the animals he hunted, they both showed extreme strength in what they did. Being hunted for days would
definitely take its toll. Towards the end of the story he realized that what he had been doing for so long wasn’t right. Likewise, being stuck on a boat for a couple days battling a humongous fish would be pretty tiresome too. Through their enormous struggles both showed perseverance. Withstanding tortuous events with care and precision, they learned new things about themselves. Santiago defeated the largest fish he had ever seen, and Rainsford completely rethought his actions.
Today in society we have put ourselves before our Earth. We perceive man as an invincible creature that nothing can harm. Rainsford took for granted all of the beautiful life forms on this planet, and manipulated them to prove he was the greatest hunter. However Santiago saw that the marlin was much more powerful, and just as wise as him. He knew what danger such animal can hold. Looking overall how Santiago lived should be a goal in our lives. To animals, or just being nice to people around us. Respect is key.