The Rattrap

- Selma Lagerlof
(1858-1940)

About the Author :

Selma Lagerlof was a Swedish writer
whose stories have been translated into
many languages. A universal theme runs
through all of them — a belief that the
essential goodness in a human being can
be awakened through understanding and
love. This story is set 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.
 The Rattrap
Introduction :
The story is about an old disheartened peddler who is shown
generosity by a young woman. Her generosity and kindness change
his bitter attitude towards 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 ‘rattrap’. He believes that the world tempts us
with riches and fine things, and when we accept, we are caught in
the trap and are left with nothing. The story conveys a universal
message that the essential goodness in a human being can be
awakened through love, respect, kindness and understanding. The
story also highlights human predicament. Material benefits are the
traps that most human beings are prone to fall into. Human beings
do have a tendency to redeem themselves from dishonest ways as
does the peddler at the end of the story.
 The Rattrap
Theme : The trap of material benefit that most human beings are prone
to fall into.

Sub-Theme : The human tendency to redeem oneself from

dishonest ways.

Plot : Life of the protagonist (a peddler) – his philosophy about the

world - at the crofter’s house – trapped in the forest - at the
iron mill – at the Ironmaster’s house – the redemption

The story emphasises the consequences of loneliness and

the need for companionship
 The Rattrap
- Selma Lagerlof

CHARACTERS :

The Peddler - The protagonist

Crofter – A lonely old man
Ironmaster – Owner of Ramjo ironworks
Edla Williamson – Daughter of the Ironmaster
Master Smith – A worker at the iron mill
 The Rattrap
SUMMARY
The Rattrap is a story about a rattrap seller who leads a very poor life as his
earnings are very low. He resort to thievery and begging to make his living.
He is alone in this whole world and leads a miserable life. So he starts
knitting up various thoughts. One of these thoughts is of the whole world
being a big rattrap. His believes that the world offers us various types of
baits in the form of comforts of life. This in return traps us in the rattrap of the
world and leads us to our miseries. Every night, the peddler had to search
for shelter as he had no home. One evening he was offered shelter by an
old crofter. The next morning he stole the crofter’s money which he had
earned by selling his cow’s milk. To safeguard himself, the peddler chose the
path through the forest which was secluded, but soon found himself trapped
in the forest as he wasn’t able to find the way out of the dense forest. Later
on, he finds a way to a forge and takes shelter there. Then something
unusual happens. The ironmaster who comes to his mill for a nightly round
of inspection, sees the peddler and mistakes him as an old regimental
comrade Captain Von Stahle and invites him to his house.
 The Rattrap
SUMMARY
The poor peddler rejects the offer due to the fear of being caught. Soon he
is invited by the ironmaster‘s daughter. The next morning his real identity is
revealed and the ironmaster threatens him saying that he would report the
matter to sheriff. The peddler tries to defend himself and leave the house at
once. But he is somehow stopped by the ironmaster’s daughter for
Christmas Eve. The next day after Christmas, when the iron master and his
daughter visit the church, they come to know that the man is a thief who
had stolen money from an old crofter. The iron master and his daughter
repent for sheltering a thief and wonder at what all things he would have
stolen by that time. Here comes a twist as instead of stealing, the peddler
gifts the ironmaster’s daughter a rattrap. She finds a letter of thanks and the
stolen money inside a rattrap left by the peddler. The peddler thanks Edla
for her kindness and requests her to return the stolen money to the crofter. 
This story gives us the message that goodness in a human being can be
awakened at any time with your own good deeds.
 The Rattrap
POINTS TO PONDER
Life of the peddler
The metaphor of the world being a rattrap
Meeting with the crofter
Life of the crofter
Hospitality of the crofter & his confidence in the peddler
Stealing by the peddler
The predicament of the peddler in deep forest
Shelter at the iron mill
Mistaken identity of the peddler by the ironmaster at night
Life of the ironmaster & his daughter
The peddler’s deception
Edla’s love and understanding, persuasion
Drama at the ironmaster’s house
Argument between the ironmaster and his daughter
Redemption of the peddler
The deep realisation
 The Rattrap
Character Portrayal

Peddler /Vagabond/Tramp/Rattrap seller/ signed himself as

Captain Von Stahle:
The peddler was a poor vagabond.
He sold rattraps to earn his living or keep his body and soul together.
He also resorted to thievery when required.
He was struck with a dark realisation that the world is itself a rattrap
and all men and women are just like rats that are vulnerable to trap
Initially, the peddler was cynical, a victim of loneliness
He was inherently not a bad person. He had some goodness in him
that was awakened by Edla, the iron master’s elder daughter.
In the end, he transformed himself
His subtle sense of humour – e.g. to be cited
 The Rattrap
Character Portrayal

Edla Willmannsson:
She was the eldest daughter of the Ironmaster
She was not that pretty but seemed modest and quite shy
Kind-hearted
Compassionate
Full of understanding
Intuitive, smart enough to understand rightly from the peddler’s
eyes that he might have escaped from jail or stolen something
By being a good host she actually elevated peddler’s nature to that
of a Captain.
She was a great human being
 The Rattrap
Character Portrayal
The Ironmaster (Ironworks owner):
The Ironmaster was the owner of the large iron factory i.e. Ramsjo Ironwork.
His greatest ambition was to ship out good iron to the market.
Hard-working and conscious of his duties as he used to go to the forge for
nightly inspection.
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.
The Crofter:
He was lonely and had nobody to talk to.
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.
He was generous.
Trusted the stranger easily/ took him into confidence.  
THANK YOU
Athul k s