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 THE RATTRAP

About the Author: She was a Swedish writer and her stories have been translated into many languages . There
universal theme that runs through all her stories is the belief that the essential goodness in a human being can be
awakened through understanding and love.

About the story: The story is set to amidst the mines of Sweden , rich in iron ore, which figure large in the
history and legends of that country. The story is told somewhat in the manner of a fairy tale.

CHARACTERS:
• Rattrap Seller or the Peddler or Captain Von Stahle
• A Crofter (old man)
• Helpers in the mill- blacksmiths
• Iron mill owner
• Edla willmansson- daughter of the iron mill owner

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 I M P O R TA N C E O F T H E T I T L E
“The Rattrap” is an appropriate title as it is the story of a rattrap peddler. The word
Rattrap throws light on the human dilemma with respect to the functioning of the
world and the society. Just like a rat is fooled by the bait that and it gets trapped
similarly even human beings also tend to fall into the trap of material benefits
provided by the world. The story revolves around the incident of a man getting
trapped due to his greed. Hence, the title is an apt one. Also, it is worth noticing and
remarkable how the story ends with the note of "hope".

THEME OF THE STORY

The remarkable theme of the story is that man is inherently good by nature and it is the
material benefits or the society and the environment he lives in makes him bad. Since the
story ends on a positive note of hope, we infer that human goodness and kindness can bring
about the change in the attitude of any person trapped.

C H A R A C T E R S K E T C H O F I M P O R TA N T C H A R A C T E R S :

Peddler or The Rattrap or Captain Von Stahle:

I. Peddler was a poor vagabond.
II. He sold rattraps to earn his living or keep his body and soul together.
III. He also resorted to thievery when required.
IV. He was struck with a dark realization that world is itself a rattrap and all men and women are
just like rats that are vulnerable to be trapped to various types of baits.
V. He was inherently not a bad person. He had some goodness in him that was irked by Edla, the
iron master’s elder daughter.
VI. At the end he transformed himself and returned the stolen money to the crofter through Edla
loving caring and devoted family man

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Edla Willmannsson:
I. She was the oldest daughter of the Iron master
II. She was not at all pretty, but seemed modest and quite shy. by heart
III. Kind hearted
IV. Compassionate
V. Smart enough to understand rightly from the peddler’s eyes that he might have escaped from jail
or stolen something.
VI. By being a good host she actually elevated peddler’s nature to that of a Captain.
VII. She was a great human being.

A Crofter:
I. He was lonely and had nobody to talk to.
II. He was happy to see the peddler and gave him shelter. This gesture made the peddler feel
welcomed and comfortable because he was used to seeing sour and unwelcomed faces ordinarily.
III. He was generous.
IV. He had been a crofter at Ramsjo Ironworks.
V. Trusted the stranger easily with his confidences.

TOM An Iron master (Ironworks owner):

I. The Iron master was the owner of the large iron factory Ramsjo Ironwork.
II. His greatest ambition was to ship out good iron in the market.
III. Hard working and conscious of his duties as he used to go to the forge for nightly inspections.
IV. He mistakes the rattrap seller as his old acquaintance and his basic instinct was to help him
irrespective of his condition, which shows that just like his daughter even he was kind hearted
and helpful. He took him to his own house and cared for him.

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 PLOT OVERVIEW

Through the story ‘The Rattrap’ the author underlines the belief that essential
goodness in human beings can be aroused through sympathy, understanding and love.
The story revolves around a man who used to sell rattraps, steals and even begs to
make his ends meet. While walking he was struck with a sudden realization that the
whole world is a rattrap and it offers riches as bait. Just like a rat is tempted to touch
and take the bait away even people are tempted to touch the bait provided y the world
and as soon as they get closer it traps them bringing everything at end. One dark
evening the rattrap peddler sought shelter in an old crofter’s roadside cottage. The
old man was kind hearted and generous and gave him food, tobacco and even played
a card game with him. The old man told him about his earnings and also told him
where he kept them. The next morning the peddler stole away the old man’s earnings
that were thirty kroners. He escaped into a big confusing forest and got lost. He got
tired and just when he was about to conclude that his end is near he heard the
thumping voices from the Ramsjo ironworks and he went inside to seek shelter for
the night. The owner soon came and noticed him and mistaken him for an old
acquaintance of his named Nils Olof. He invited the peddler to stay with him for the
Christmas Eve as even he and his daughter were unhappy spending the eve all alone.
Though the peddler was reluctant but when the owner of the mill sent his daughter
Edla Willmansson to persuade him he could not say no. The peddler realizes that by
stealing thirty kronor from the old man and accepting the invitation for Christmas
Eve he has knowingly thrown himself into the lion’s den. When the peddler came to
the dining table all well-groomed and dressed not as a tramp but as a gentleman the
iron master or the owner realizes that he had mistaken him and he threatened to call
the sheriff. Though his daughter pleaded that the peddler should not be bothered and
he deserves at least one day at peace. The iron master although reluctantly agreed to
his daughter’s request and the peddler was given food and place to sleep and was not
disturbed except for food. Next morning the iron master and his daughter learn at the
church about the man who stole thirty kronor from the old man and escaped into the
woods and they realize its none other than their guest and they rush home only to
find that the man was gone. But he did not steal anything instead he left a packet for
Edla as her Christmas present, she opens the packet and finds a rattrap, three
wrinkled ten-Kroner notes and also a letter with a request to return the Kroners to the
crofter

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