Rainsford Character Analysis Essay

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Rainsford is a very intriguing character, who is apathetic to victims’ fear and suffering throughout most of the story. At the end of the story, Rainsford reverts to aggression, abandoning his fear somewhere in the dense jungle on the Caribbean island, where he learns he is a true hunter, regardless of his state of affairs. Whitney is also a hunter, but shows empathy for her prey while speaking with Rainsford on the yacht. During their conversation on the yacht, Rainsford remains indifferent, classifying the world by two classes: “the hunters and the huntees” (63).When Rainsford finds himself in Zaroff’s imposing dining room, he begins to lose his nerve and briefly experiences trepidation similar to Whitney’s previously in the story, although as the story progresses he, once again, becomes a beast of prey, similar to Zaroff. The conversation between Whitney and Rainsford on the yacht is virtually a direct parallel to the conversation Rainsford and Zaroff later have in the mansion, where Rainsford replaces Whitney in the conversation as Zaroff assumes the role of the dominant hunter. Connell wittingly includes the two …show more content…

Rainsford is first introduced as an unwavering, unapologetic character who is determined to kill his prey, although when he is first introduced to Zaroff’s “new animal” to hunt for sport, he is riddled with angst (69). As the story comes to an end Rainsford’s character is, once again, a determined and impenitent character, which is evident as Rainsford surprises Zaroff in his room, asserting he is “still a beast at bay” (78). It becomes clear that Rainsford is no longer concerned with surviving the game, but killing his adversary. Rainsford clearly has no remorse (similarly to when he was on the yacht) after he kills Zaroff. When Rainsford lays down to rest the last thing he communicates is he has “never slept in a better bed”

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