A Transformation
...ing of the chase, Rainsford’s transformation is not yet evident. His personality does not seem to be changed by the initial prospect of being hunted as a sport. He seems more intent on keeping his wits and staying clear headed than anything else. His actions at this point in the story do not reveal any personality changes. He merely does what he can to keep from being caught by Zaroff. He portrays his intelligence and skill while attempting to outwit Zaroff, but he does not yet behave violently. As the story progresses though, he becomes more desperate in his attempts to escape capture and death. A short while after he has been “hunted” one of the first pieces of evidence of his change can be seen. After leaving a very confusing trail for the General Rainsford hides in a tree to rest. The General finds the end of the trail however, and while he is waiting to see if he has been discovered or not “Rainsford’s impulse [is] to hurl himself down like a panther.” In this quote Rainsford is directly compared to a panther, a very powerful animal, which is very different character wise than Rainsford in the beginning. Once he sees that the general has a gun he waits with “every muscle tensed for a spring.” These statements portray animal-like qualities that Rainsford is beginning to acquire. He is still not behaving violently, but his actions are becoming more animalistic. The first time that he actually tries to defend himself, rather than just run from his pursuer, is with the “Malay man-catcher.” This is a trap he sets up using a dead tree trunk and a living tree. The tree trunk strikes the general on the shoulder rather than crushing him, and Rainsford is forced to think of another way to stop his hunter from capturing him. While the first trap only bought him more time, it could have been very harmful. At this point Rainsford is becoming more violent in his attempts to outwit Zaroff; his personality in general is becoming more violent. Since his first trap did not work Rainsford devises another one. While the first one could have crushed the General, and potentially been fatal, the next one he sets is much more violent. The next trap he sets is the pit with the pointed stakes set in the bottom. Again, however, his trap fails. One of Zaroff’s hunting dogs falls victim to the trap, not Zaroff as Rainsford had hoped. Still, this trap had much more of a chance at being fatal than the first one. He did end up killing with this trap; it was just not the right target. He is beginning to act more violently, like prey that will go to extreme means to protect itself from his attacker. Rainsford’s time is running out and his hunter is coming closer as time goes by. He is becoming more desperate and more violent still in his attempts to escape Zaroff. In his next and final attempt to fight back, he uses the knife he has been given. This trap is meant to be deadly. Rainsford’s views on fighting against men have been changed by his need to defend himself. Once again, his trap works, but on the wrong target. This ...