The Rattrap

By Selma Lagerlof
Introduction

. “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
Willmansson 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 this goodness can be unlocked
through compassion and kindness.
The story is set in Sweden during the Industrial Revolution. During this time many iron workers lost their jobs to
machines and many others got jobs at the factories

The Philosophical Note

The story also has a philosophical note to it. Firstly the comparison between one‘s life and the giant rat trap. Like the
rat trap, life has many temptations which act like baits. If you give in to these temptations then you will get trapped
by the consequences of those actions. Secondly, the story touches on the concept of retribution and second chance.
If one atones for a wrongful deed then he/she deserves another chance.

The Title:
“The Rattrap” is an appropriate title as it is the story of a rattrap peddler. The author has used the metaphor of a
Rattrap to highlight the human predicament. Just as a rat is fooled by bait and gets trapped, most human beings also
fall into the trap of material benefits. The story revolves around the incident of a man getting trapped due to his
greed. Hence, the title is an apt one.

Theme:
The story touches a very philosophical theme as it shows how the human beings are prone to fall into the trap of
material benefits. It is the human tendency to redeem oneself from dishonest ways. Hence, the whole world is called
a big rattrap which tempts the people towards its materialistic benefits, and brings about their doom and never-
ending predicament.
It also highlights the themes like human loneliness, status and treatment meted out to have-nots and callous
attitude of society and government towards such people.
One of the themes is that man is inherently good by nature. The society and environment make them bad. Human
goodness and kindness can bring about the change in their attitude. “The Rattrap” is a story that underlines the
belief that essential goodness in human beings can be aroused through sympathy, understanding and love

Points to Remember
The Rattrap peddler
• made his living by selling rattraps.
• business not profitable.
• had to beg and steal.
His philosophy
• whole world a rat trap and it offers riches, joys, shelter fond etc. as bait.
• everything comes to end and with no return.
Shelter at Crofter's house:
• one night rattrap man stayed at an old man's house.
• old man happy to get a company -simple, generous, hospitable, served porridge
• offered big slice from tobacco roll; played cards and told him about his prosperous past.
• now his cow supported him, earned thirty kronors.
• showed the rattrap man pouch having those kronors.
• next day the rattrap man stole money.
Rattrap man lost his way:
• did not continue on public highway
• went into woods, lost his way
• realized he himself has been caught in a rattrap.
• heard sounds of hammer walked in that direction, reached iron mill.
 • found master smith, did not notice rattrap man.
• later blacksmith granted him permission to sleep.
Iron master and his daughter Elda:
• owner of Ramsjo Iron Mill
• Mistook rattrap man as old acquaintance called Von Stahle.
• invited him home to spend Christmas
• rattrap man did not agree
• agreed when Elda came and requested
• overwhelmed by her compassionate and friendly manner.
Secret Revealed
• rattrap man was given bath and new dress
• iron man realized his mistake that the rattrap man was not his friend.
• the peddler ready to leave the new dress and wear old rags.
• Edla requested her father to allow him to stay
• they had promised him to celebrate Christmas with him.
• The rattrap man turned a new leaf
• quietly ate food, slept whole time
• next morning father and daughter went to church
• they heard that the crofter was robbed by a rattrap man.
• daughter sad, father anxious if their house would also have been robbed.
• but the peddler had left a gift of a small rattrap with thirty kronors and a note
• wished money to be returned to crofter and confessed that he had made a mistake
• got caught in his own rattrap.
• thanked Edla for treating him like a real captain.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What rattrap was the peddler trapped in? How did he come out of it?
Key points
• The whole world a rattrap - World full of temptations shelter food, joy and riches – are the baits.
• The bait that he fell for was at the crofter's house, blamed the crofter for having tempted with his
bait.
• initially refused the office of iron master thinking it to be another bait.
• After meeting with Edla, he got reformed and returned the thirty kronors in a rattrap.

[Link] how the story, "The Rattrap" shows that basic human goodness can be brought out by
understanding and love.
Key points
Ans. The story 'The Rattrap' highlights the fact that compassion and concern can awaken the essential
goodness in a man.
• The peddler, who had been resorting to begging and thievery all the time, never bothered to clear
his identity be fooled the ironmaster too.
• But, Edla gave him a royal treatment, served him delicious supper, gifted her father's dress to him.
• This kind of unconditioned love and compassion from Edla made him realise his mistake and further,
he confessed his guilt too.
• This way, she made a lot of difference in his life and he got transformed into a much better person.
• He left the stolen money behind, even a letter and a gift for Edla.

3. Justify the title “The Rattrap”.

Value Points
• The peddler felt the whole world was a rat trap.
·• Its only purpose was set bait for people-riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and nothing just as the rat
trap offered cheese and pork.
·• As soon as one touched the bait, the world closed in on one.
•· After the peddler stole the crofter ‘s money he lost his way in the forest. He thought he had given in to the
temptation by stealing and now he was lost in the forest.
·• He tells the ironmaster about the world being a rat trap. All the good things being offered were nothing
but temptation to drag people into trouble. None escaped the trap.
• In the end a rat trap is left as a Christmas present to show Edla that the respect and kindness shown to him
had changed him.
• Thus the title is apt for the metaphor of the rat trap serves to highlight the theory of crime and
punishment

4. The story “The Rattrap” focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Comment.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How did the peddler earn his livelihood? What kind of life did he live?
Ans. earned his livelihood by selling small rattraps of wire---which he used to make himself from the
material got by begging in the stores or at big farms- beg or even steal. He roamed about like a vagabond all
alone- lived a sad and monotonous life with no one to welcome him.
2. What strange idea about the world struck the peddler?
3. Why did the peddler decline the iron master's invitation?
4. Pick out two instances from the story 'The Rattrap' to show that the peddler realized that he himself was
trapped?
5. What had the peddler left behind as a Christmas gift for Edla Willmanson? Why?
[Link] conclusion did the ironmaster reach when he heard that the crofter had been robbed by the
peddler? (Compartment 2014)
7. What were the contents of the package left by the peddler as Christmas gift for Edla Willmansson?
(Compartment 2014)
8. Who was the owner of Ramsjo iron mills? Why did he visit the mills at night? (All India 2012)
an ex-army man and an ambitious and prominent ironmaster- very particular about the quality of his
products--- visited the mills even at night to make sure that good iron was shipped out from his mills.