How do you think the hunting experience with Zaoff change Rainsford?

Rainsford’s hunting experience with Ivan, the Cossack, transformed him from an arrogant, self-confident hunter to a fearful, humbled, and compassionate man.

Before his encounter with Zaroff, Rainsford had always viewed hunting as an exciting sport. He did not perceive the animals he hunted as sentient beings capable of feeling pain or fear, but as mere objects or trophies. In this way, he felt no remorse for killing them.

He was so confident in his hunting abilities that he did not hesitate to challenge Zaroff to a hunt, even though he was aware of the danger involved. He confidently asserted, “I am a hunter. I have hunted every kind of game in every corner of the world. No animal has ever escaped me. I have killed two hundred lions. Three hundred tigers.”

However, his encounter with Zaroff on the island drastically altered his perspective. He realized that being hunted was a terrifying and desperate experience for the animals. When he was forced to become the hunted, he experienced firsthand the fear, anxiety, and desperation of the animals he had previously pursued with such glee.

This change is evident in Rainsford’s reaction when he realizes that he has become the prey. He is no longer the confident, arrogant hunter. He is now terrified, and he desperately tries to escape from the island and survive.

Through this shift, Rainsford begins to understand the value and importance of life, both human and animal. He develops a sense of compassion and respect for the animals he hunts, and he comes to see that hunting for sport is not the noble pursuit he once believed it to be.