THE RATTRAP

BACKGROUND:

"The Rattrap" is set in the iron mines of 16th-century Sweden, a place rich in iron ore and a setting for the
story, which has a fairy tale-like quality. The story's "background" includes its author, Selma Lagerlöf, a
Nobel laureate, and a universal theme that the world is a temptation-filled "rattrap" where human
goodness can be awakened by love, understanding, and kindness, transforming even cynical
individuals. The setting of the iron mill underscores this theme, contrasting the harshness of industry with
the potential for empathy and redemption.

THEMES:
 Essential Goodness and Redemption:

The story emphasizes that no one is inherently bad; even a cynical and desperate person can be
transformed by genuine empathy and love. The peddler's eventual return of the money shows his
redemption.

 The "Rattrap" of Materialism:

The story uses the metaphor of a rattrap to represent the allure of material benefits—such as wealth,
comfort, and pleasure—that can trap people into despair and dishonest ways.

 Kindness and Compassion:

Acts of genuine kindness and understanding, like those shown by Edla can break through cynicism and
bring about a profound change in a person's life.

 Loneliness and Isolation:

The peddler's lonely existence highlights the theme of isolation and the fundamental human need for
connection.

 Transformation:
The narrative demonstrates that a person's life can be changed by encountering love and respect,
leading to personal growth and a different perspective on life.

Q/A (NCERT)

Q1- How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter,
the ironmaster and his daughter?
Ans- The peddler was a rattrap seller. He was leading a life of misery. He was homeless. Moreover,
he didn’t have enough money to survive. So, he had to depend upon begging and thievery. He was
once offered shelter by an old crofter. He wanted company and showed kindness towards the
peddler by sharing his porridge and tobacco. In return, the peddler betrayed him and stole his
money.
The ironmaster mistook him as his old companion Captain Von Stahle; he showed his kindness to
him and invited him to his house for Christmas Eve. The peddler knew that the ironmaster was
making a mistake by thinking him to be his old friend but here also he did not clear the air and simply
accepted the invitation. He did this so that the ironmaster may give him some money out of pity.
Elda Willmansson who was the iron master’s daughter invited him to their house in a very friendly
way. Also, she insisted her father to let him stay for Christmas Eve even after it was revealed that he
was not Captain Von Stahle. The kind nature of Elda changed the peddler and he not only thanked
her by gifting a rattrap for being so kind and caring but also requested her to return the stolen money
to the old crofter.

Q2- 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 character of both ironmaster and his daughter were totally different from each other.
The iron master was a proud man. When he saw the peddler, he mistook him as an old regimental
comrade and tried to help him out of his sense of pride. When he realized that he had been
mistaken, he called the peddler to be dishonest and also warned him of calling the sheriff. Not only
this, he worried about his silver spoons when he comes to know that peddler was a thief. On the
other hand, the ironmaster’s daughter was a kind lady, who really wanted to help the peddler. She
treated him with respect and it was her kind nature that changed the peddler and made him a good
person.

Q3- The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’
behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises?
Ans. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others’
behaviour. [Link]:
One evening when the peddler knocked at the door of a little hut, he was not disappointed by the
owner rather he welcomed him and tried to be a good host to him by offering him food and playing
cards with him. In another instance when the peddler went inside a forge to seek shelter, there he
was invited by the ironmaster to his house as he mistook him as one of his old regimental comrade.
But when the ironmaster realized that he had invited some unknown person to his house, he asked
him to leave. At his time, he was allowed to stay by his daughter Elda out of kindness.

Q4- What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Ans. Edla Willmansson’s kindness reformed the peddler. Her kindness, compassion, and generosity
killed the thief in him. He gifted her rattrap. Also, he returned the three ten kronor notes that he had
stolen from the crofter’s house. He requested her to return the money to the old crofter. He wrote a
letter to her, thanking her for treating him well just like she would have treated a real captain.

Q5- How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Ans. The world tempts human beings with various good things such as luxuries and joys, food and
shelter, clothing and warmth, etc. They are just like the bait which is planted to trap someone in the
rattrap of the world. In the story, the peddler was attracted to the three ten kronors of the crofter,
which he stole from him. Later on, he found himself trapped in the forest as he planned to hide by
walking through the woods. When he got trapped, he thought that this was a punishment for his sin
of getting lured by the money.

Q6- 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. We can see the peddler’s sense of humour when he compares the world with a rattrap.
Whenever he gets caught due to his own knitted stories, he tries to prove his innocence by believing
that he has fallen into the trap of this world which actually is like a rattrap. This lightens the
seriousness of the story and makes the reader sympathize with him.