**The Most Dangerous Game

"The Most Dangerous Game" has two key characters.  Rainsford, the protagonist, and General Zaroff, the antagonist.  There are some similarities between the two characters, but there are many more differences.  First off, the two characters are similar because they are both hunters. Rainsford is the best there is and Zaroff has read Rainsford's book and saw he is the best there is.  Also Rainsford and Zaroff are similar because they are both competitive.  Rainsford wants to beat Zaroff at his game while Zaroff tries competing with every one who ends up on the island.  

Some differences are what Rainsford and Zaroff hunt.  Rainsford sticks to the traditional wild animals while Zaroff has become bored with that and now hunts humans.  Also Rainsford does not believe in hunting the human race while Zaroff does not see anything wrong with that.  He needs a challenge from boring wild animals to more skilled and interesting humans.

I think the reader has to be aware of the many mentions of darkness.  There is a constant shadow that surrounds Ship-Trap Island.  The author also mentions the water to be "velvety, moist and black" on a moonless night.  This means when Rainsford has to find his way to the island after falling off the boat he has to do it in the dark.