Allusion in The Most Dangerous Game

Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher and Roman emperor who ruled from 161 to his death on March 17, 180. He practiced and wrote about the philosophy of Stoicism, which valued the virtues of prudence (wisdom), justice (morality), fortitude (courage), and temperance (moderation); respect for others was also a part of Stoic philosophy. It is ironic that Zaroff would read the works of Marcus Aurelius, since Zaroff’s philosophy of life is brutal and animalistic.

Madame Butterfly is a classic Italian opera by Giacomo Puccini, first performed in 1904 and featuring a tragic love story that ends in betrayal and death. Zaroff’s humming music from the opera when he assumes Rainsford has just leaped to his death continues to contrast Zaroff’s social refinement with his brutal nature.

The passage is an allusion to Aesop’s fable “The Fox and the Cat,” a tale in which a fox and a cat try to elude hunters who are pursuing them. The fox uses several tricks to throw the hunters off his trail, while the cat hides in a tree. The fox is caught and killed, but the cat escapes. Rainsford’s referring to the fable shows that he is employing every means to escape Zaroff.

The Folies Bergere is a famous music hall in Paris known for light entertainment and extravagant musical revues with elaborate sets and provocative costumes. It reached the height of popularity between the 1890s and the 1920s. Zaroff’s being familiar with a song from the Folies Bergere adds to his characterization as a man who has traveled the world; his humming the song contrasts sharply with the horrendous activities he pursues.

The “Great White Czar” generally alludes to Peter the Great, who ruled Russia in 1682, but the allusion could not refer to him, given that details in the story indicate that the setting is more than two centuries later. In context, “Great White Czar” most likely alludes to Czar Nicholas. After he was overthrown in the Russian Revolution, a civil war erupted in Russia; those who supported Czar Nicholas and the Russian monarchy formed what was termed “the White army” and unsuccessfully fought the revolutionary Red army.

This is an allusion to the violent Russian Revolution of 1917 during which Czar Nicholas was overthrown, a counter revolution failed, Nicholas and his entire family were murdered, and Russian royalty fled the country. Zaroff would consider it a “debacle,” a catastrophic disaster, since his father was a member of the Russian nobility.

“Medieval” is an allusion to the Middle Ages, also known as the medieval period in European history that lasted from the 5th century through the 1400s. The allusion calls to mind the resplendent art and majestic architecture of the period, such as huge stone cathedrals with expansive stained glass windows, paintings, and sculptures. The allusion suggests that Zaroff’s chateau is opulent and richly appointed.

The name is an allusion to James Purdey and Sons (or Purdey’s), a company established in London in 1814 that makes high-quality custom hunting rifles and shotguns. Whitney and Rainsford’s ordering guns from Purdey’s designed specifically to hunt jaguars implies that they are serious big-game hunters.