The Rattrap

Understanding the Text

1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter,
the ironmaster and his daughter?

Ans: Initially, the peddler heartily accepts the crofter's hospitality and generosity but robs him of
his hard-earned money just because it is easy to do so. When the ironmaster mistakes him to be
his old regimental comrade, the peddler does not disclose his true identity in the hope of getting
a few kronor. However, when the ironmaster pesters him, he again feels a sense of entrapment,
having stolen the money from the crofter, and thus declines the invitation. However, on Edla's
request, he goes to the ironmaster's home. Edla's warmth, sympathy and hospitality transform
him in the end. When she elevates him to the status of a captain, it makes him redeem himself
from being a petty thief. It stirs the innate goodness of his heart. He no more feels trapped, but
regards her kindness as an act of nobility.

2. What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is
different from that of his daughter in many ways?

Ans:- The ironmaster was a man of power and ambition and was rather arrogant. He invited the
peddler home more out of his sense of pride than out of sympathy or generosity. When the
ironmaster realised that he had been mistaken, he called the peddler dishonest and threatened
to call the Sheriff. Later on, when he learnt that the peddler was a thief, he was worried about his
own silverware.

On the other hand, Edla, the ironmaster's daughter, was a kind and compassionate lady who was
really sympathetic and considerate towards the peddler right from the beginning. She treated
him with respect and dignity even after knowing that he was not a captain. It was her generous
attitude which finally changed the peddler, bringing out the essential goodness of his nature.

3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others'
behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.

Ans: The instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others' behaviour are-

(i) The old crofter welcomes the tramp for shelter and food at night. He even reposes his trust in
him by showing him the money and the place where it was kept. The peddler's act of stealing
the crofter's hard-earned 30 kronor is unexpected.

(ii) The peddler seeks refuge in the forge, meets the ironmaster and the latter mistakes him to
be his old regimental comrade. His invitation to the tramp to come for Christmas Eve to the
manor house leaves one astounded.

(iii) The peddler's act of accepting Edla's invitation, in spite of his guilt feeling about the stolen
money and thoughts about entering the lion's den, is surprising.

(iv) When the peddler, left to himself in the manor house, has every opportunity to slip out with
the valuables, he does not do so. Even the ironmaster expects something like this to happen.
However, the peddler goes away, leaving behind a small rattrap as a Christmas gift and the
thirty kronor he had stolen to be returned to the rightful owner. This is also unexpected.

v) The peddler's letter addressed to Edla, expressing his gratitude for elevating him to the status
of captain, giving him a chance to free himself from the rattrap of the world and redeeming him,
also give us a pleasant surprise.

Thus, the story is replete with instances of unexpected reactions and surprises.

4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Ans: Edla's kindness, compassion and caring behaviour finally made the peddler change his
ways. The peddler believed in giving back to the world what he received from it. He was always
treated with contempt and hostility and so he never did anything good. However, as Edla had
treated him with the love and respect befitting a captain when she knew that he was a poor
vagabond, he decided to change his ways and live with dignity and respect.

5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?

Ans: The peddler, in the course of his wandering, suddenly thinks about the whole world as a big
rattrap. Just as cheese and meat are baits in the rattrap, similarly the riches, joy, shelter and
food that the world offers are baits to entrap and ensnare people.

Being an embittered man, shunned by everybody, these thoughts give 'unwonted joy' to the
tramp. He thinks of all the people around him who have fallen into the trap.

The musings of the tramp do have an iota of truth in them. We are tempted by temptations,
desires and needs. We go all out to satisfy them. In this desire to amass and accumulate more
and more, we are entrapped by the world.

Just in case we do not get the things we want, we are plunged into despair and gloom. In this
way, the metaphor of the rattrap highlights the human predicament.

6. The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in
lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?

Ans: The peddler, with his subtle sense of humour, equates the rattraps he makes to the world,
which he believes is a huge rattrap, offering baits like comfort, food, shelter and material
benefits. One day the rattrap traps us and there is no way out. The peddler's insistence on
staying in the warm forge and refusal to go with the ironmaster evokes pity. We know that
somewhere he is feeling guilty of stealing the crofter's money.
TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

1. The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this
so? Is the sympathy justified?

Ans: The peddler wins our sympathy for his way of life and how the world treats him. It is an
admitted fact that the underdog always runs away with sympathy, so does the peddler with the
rattraps. He begs the material like wire for his rattraps. His business not being specially
profitable, he resorts to begging and petty thievery to keep body and soul together.

His life is sad and monotonous. He plods along the road lost in his own meditation. The world
has never been very kind to him and he feels happy in calling it a rattrap. Whenever, he asks
shelter for the night, he meets sour faces. He is an unwelcome, unwanted and undesirable
figure. The blacksmiths at forge glance at him only casually and indifferently. The master
blacksmith nods a haughty consent without honouring him with a single word.

The old and lonely crofter finds him an enjoyable company. The ironmaster mistakes him for an
old regimental comrade. Only Edla Willmansson behaves with him in a kind, friendly manner.
Her nice treatment arouses the tramp’s goodness. He redeems himself Hy returning the stolen
money and wins our admiration. Thus, we see that the sympathy is not only well earned but well
justified too.

2. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others.

Ans: There are at least three characters in the story who suffer from loneliness and express the
need to bond with others. They represent three strata of the human society as well. The peddler
with the rattraps, the old crofter and the ironmaster all suffer from loneliness. The peddler is
called a tramp, a vagabond and stranger at various points of the story. He moves wearily from
one place to the other. He is lost in his own thoughts. He seeks shelter for night and people look
at him with sour faces. Even the blacksmiths look haughtily at him and nod consent. The old
crofter suffers from loneliness as he has neither wife nor child with him. Hence, he feels happy
when he gets the peddler to talk to in his loneliness.

The ironmaster is also lonely in his manor house. His wife Elizabeth has died and his sons are
abroad. There is no one at home except his oldest daughter and himself. His requests to
Captain von Stehle to accompany him show his need for human bonding. He admits frankly that
they didn’t have any company for Christmas. The stranger turns down the request not because
he is against bonding with others but because he fears being caught with stolen money.

3. Have you known/heard of an episode where a good deed or an act of kindness has changed
a person’s view of the world?

Ans: Yes, I know how the kindness of a Bishop transformed a hard-hearted beastly convict into
a man again with faith in God and human values. The story is presented in the form of a famous
play ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’
The Bishop provides food and shelter at midnight to a runaway convict who threatens him with
a knife. Long years of imprisonment and harsh treatment in the prisonship has transformed the
man into beast and he is devoid of all human feelings now. The convict runs away with the
Bishop’s silver candlesticks, but is caught by the police.

In order to save the convict from further punishment and torture, the Bishop tells the police
officer that the fellow is his friend and he had himself given him the candlesticks. This kind act
of the Bishop melts the hard heart of the convict. He sobs and weeps. He promises to be a man
again.

4. The story is both entertaining and philosophical. Discuss.

Ans: The story entertains us by providing glimpses into human nature and how people react to
various situations. The actions of the peddler after stealing thirty kronor are quite amusing. The
reactions of the blacksmiths to the tramp’s request for shelter show how casual and indifferent
human beings can be.

The U-turn in the ironmaster’s attitude towards the stranger reveal how selfish and ignorant
human beings can be. Mistaking the vagabond for his old regimental comrade, whom he thinks
he has run across unexpectedly, he asks the stranger to accompany him home and spend
Christmas with them. When the stranger refuses to go with him, the ironmaster sends his
daughter. With her better persuasive power she makes him follow her.

The ironmaster is annoyed on seeing the stranger in broad daylight. But instead of realising his
own mistake, he puts the blame on the man. He talks of handing him over to the sheriff. The
metaphor of the world being a rattrap saves the situation for the tramp, but the ironmaster
wants to turn him out. His daughter’s comments are quite entertaining and philosophical. She
wants the tramp to enjoy a day of peace. Secondly, she does not want to chase away a person
whom they had invited home and had promised Christmas cheer.