The Rattrap
The Rattrap is a story that is entertaining as well as philosophical. Through the
metaphor of rattrap, the author highlights the human predicament (hardship)of
falling into the trap of temptations. The story is a good analysis of the emotional
needs of human beings that govern their behaviour. There is a subtle humour all
through the story that serves in lightening the seriousness of its tone.
The story deals with the trap of material benefits that most human beings are
prone to fall into. It also dwells on the human tendency to redeem oneself from
dishonest ways. Focusing on human loneliness and the need to bond with
others, it brings out our tendency to look down upon the ‘have nots’ of the
society and deprive them of an opportunity to make their lives worth living.
However, here and there, are stray good souls that help them come out of the
depth of their wretchedness (unhappiness) and encourage them to live a
dignified life.
The Rattrap” written by Selma Lagerlof is a short story about an old,
disheartened beggar and thief who is taken in and shown generosity by a young
woman, her kindness changes his bitter attitude about life. The peddler is a man
who has fallen upon misfortune and now resorts to selling rattraps, begging, and
thievery. He is very pessimistic about the world around him and sees the world
as merely a “rat trap”. He believes that society tempts us with riches and fine
things, and when we accept, we are caught in the trap and are left with nothing.
The warmth of compassion extends its rays around the world, engraving
mankind with its characteristic. Selma Lagerlof supports the theory of
compassion in her modern day short story “The Rattrap” which depicts
the powerful and positive impacts of such care. In the story, cynicism grips the
protagonist rat trap peddler until the old man and the blacksmith’s daughter
infect the protagonist with their altruism. Thus, the peddler’s inner soul
experiences a rapid transformation form an ugly duckling to a dazzling swan.
Lagerlof’s first scene of compassion is from the old man’s hospitality. Despite
the fact that he did not know the peddler, the old man still opened his arms and
acted charitable by providing food and shelter. This action is not typical in the
today’s world; a majority of us would turn a blind eye. However, although the
old man showed a sign of compassion, it was not appreciated—the protagonist
stole from the old man. As the peddler ponders on the road of guilt, he soon
receives a second action of care from a little girl.
Compassion is illustrated when the blacksmith’s daughter takes pity on the
protagonist. Although she knew the fact that he was not Captain von Stahle,
whom he claimed to be, the girl said, ” I think he ought to stay with us today. I
don’t want him to go.” The girl’s compassionate words cracked the foundation
of the protagonist’s cynical world. Throughout the story, the protagonist only
believed in the dismal side of human nature, survival of the fittest, and viewed
the world as a battlefield. His whole belief system was shattered when he
received the girl’s pity and an opportunity to enjoy his first “true” Christmas.
Lagerlof’s “The Rat Trap” strongly validates the concept that compassion
revolves around humankind. She provides evidence when the old man and the
blacksmith’s daughter show compassion towards the protagonist. As a result,
the girl acted as the North Star, guiding the protagonist out of the trap of
cynicism.
Another lesson the mendicant (beggar) learns throughout the course of the story
is to be considerate of others. At the end of the novel, he makes amends with the
old man by returning his money and writing Edla a thank you note. He
understands what he did to the man was wrong and that was not returning the
kindness and trust given to him. He apologized for lying to the girl and her
father and leaves her a present, a rat trap and the stolen
money(thirty croner bills) of the old man to be returned.
The theme of the story is that most human beings are prone to fall into the trap
of material benefit. However, every human being has an essential goodness that
can be awakened through understanding and love. A human being has the
tendency to redeem himself from dishonest ways. Human Kindness “The
Rattrap” is a short, almost fairy-tale story that centers around the transforming
power of human kindness. An unnamed peddler of rattraps goes from seeing the
world as “one big rattrap” and engaging in robbery to returning his stolen
money and proclaiming himself free—all as a result of experiencing true
kindness and generosity from Edla Williamson on Christmas Eve. By showing
the peddler’s potential for positive change, Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf
expresses a belief that there is a core of goodness in all people, and that
goodness can be unlocked through compassion and kindness.
Trust vs. Cynicism (distrust) As “The Rattrap” begins, the homeless peddler is
defined by his “rattrap” philosophy of life: that the world is nothing but a big
rattrap that offers “bait” in the form of luxuries and pleasures, and then ensnares
and ruins anyone who reaches for this bait. This is a fundamentally cynical
worldview, and one that the story ultimately undercuts by showing its
limitations and offering an alternate philosophy. Though life can be harsh and
cruel at times, Selma Lagerlöf suggests that being wholly cynical only leads one
to isolation, immorality, and unhappiness. Instead, the story advocates for a
more trusting worldview, one that takes human kindness into account and can
build community between people.
Loneliness and Companionship Connected to the themes of kindness and trust,
“The Rattrap” also explores the basic human need for companionship and
community, and shows the negative effects of loneliness, whether as a result of
poverty, cynicism, or unkindness. At the start of the story, the peddler leads an
incredibly lonely existence, and this affects him in extremely negative ways,
causing him unhappiness and bitterness, and driving him to steal from and lie to
others. Through the peddler’s transformative interactions with the old man, the
ironmaster, and Edla Williamson, however, the story shows the importance of
human companionship, and suggests that a society should bring people together
rather than isolating them or turning them against each other.
