Feudalism was not the "dominant" form of political organization in medieval Europe. There was no "hierarchical system" of lords and vassals engaged in a structured agreement to provide military defense. There was no "subinfeudation" leading up to the king
Feudalism is a form of hierarchy in the military. In this form, the ruler offers a unit of land to a fighter in exchange for the military service to be provided by them. The person who gave the land was the lord and the person who accepts the land is his vassal.
At the beginning of the story, Rainsford's attitude is fairly cold toward the animals that he hunts. Rainsford loves hunting, and he feels no sympathy for the animals that he hunts and kills. But when general Zaroff starts hunting him he started to know how the hunted feels like.
