During their initial dinner, General Zaroff tells Rainsford that he has become bored with hunting animals because he always gets his quarry. The general says that animals simply cannot compete with him because they have nothing but their physical abilities and instincts. General Zaroff then says, "Instinct is no match for reason" (Connell, 7). In my opinion, the general is absolutely correct in his belief that reason will overcome instinct every time. There are numerous...
During their initial dinner, General Zaroff tells Rainsford that he has become bored with hunting animals because he always gets his quarry. The general says that animals simply cannot compete with him because they have nothing but their physical abilities and instincts. General Zaroff then says, "Instinct is no match for reason" (Connell, 7). In my opinion, the general is absolutely correct in his belief that reason will overcome instinct every time. There are numerous examples in nature that support this claim, such as man's ability to conquer rough terrains, build structures in nearly uninhabitable locations, and capture or kill almost any species of animal. General Zaroff's claim can also be supported by the fact that man occupies the highest spot on the food chain. Humans are nowhere near as physically or instinctually gifted as animals yet have conquered almost every species on the planet because of our ability to reason. For example, a black rhino can weigh upwards of three thousand pounds and run up to thirty-five miles per hour, yet it is critically endangered because of over hunting. Despite its opposing physique and natural instincts, humans have hunted black rhinos to near extinction. The same can be said for the African elephant, Amur leopard, and Bengal tiger.
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