4

MIND MAP

SUMMARY OF THE STORY

“The Rattrap” is a short story about an old disheartened peddler and thief who is taken in and shown generosity by a young
woman whose kindness changes his bitter attitude to life. The peddler is a man who has fallen upon misfortune and now resorts
to selling rattraps, begging, and thievery.
The story begins like a fairytale. The central character is a beggar and petty thief who goes about selling rattraps of wire to make
a small living. The peddler led a lonely life. One day while he was thinking about his rattraps, an idea struck him. He thought that
the world itself was a rattrap. As soon as anybody touched it, the trap closed on them. He was amused to think of some people
who were already trapped, and some others who were trying to reach the bait in the trap. The story unfolds gradually with the
various baits being offered to the beggar. One evening, the rattrap peddler took shelter in an old man’s cottage who had been a
crofter at Ramsjö Ironworks. The amiable and generous man offered him dinner and tobacco. He even showed him the thirty
kronor bills, earned by selling his cow’s milk, kept in a leather pouch that hung near the window. However, the next morning, the
rattrap peddler stole the money and made his escape through the forest. But as he got lost in the woods, he realised that the thirty
kronor bills had been a bait to trap him in the huge rattrap that the world is.
Next at the Ramsjö ironworks, while seeking shelter for the night, the tramp bites the bait offered to him by the owner (though
he initially refuses it), the ironmaster. Edla, the ironmaster’s daughter offers yet another bait for the tramp by asking him to stay
over Christmas even after his truth dawns on the hosts. At the church, the ironmaster and Edla were shocked to know that a certain
rattrap seller had robbed one of their old crofters. As they returned, the father wondered what the rattrap peddler would have
robbed them of. The daughter, however, felt dejected.
On returning home, they were informed, by the valet, that the man had left empty-handed. On the contrary, he had left a package,
as a Christmas present, for Edla.The peddler left a package containing a small rattrap with the three ten kronor bills that he had
stolen from the crofter. Along with that he left a letter thanking Edla for her generosity and asking her to return the bills to the
crofter. He wrote, “The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat that would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not
been raised to captain, because in that way he got power to clear himself.” It was signed as “Caption von Stahle”.
Thus, ‘The Rattrap’ is a story that gives us a psychological insight into human nature. The author highlights how greed for
material things entrap human beings. The story upholds the belief that the essential goodness of a human being can be awakened
through love and understanding. It brings into focus the idea that the world is a rattrap.

4. THE RATTRAP
by Selma Lagerlöf

CHARACTER SKETCH: The Peddler CHARACTER SKETCH: The Crofter

Selma Lagerlöf draws the character of the peddler with all The crofter was an old man without a wife or a child. He
sympathy and understanding. The rattrap peddler was a tall man was lonely but trusting. He was hospitable and gullible.
who had his own imagination and meditation. He lived by making He was a man of liberal beliefs, so he gladly allowed the
and selling rattraps from scrap materials he got by begging. His peddler to stay in his cottage for the night. Not only that, he
life was sad and monotonous. Since the world had never been
kind to him, he was full of bitterness and malice against it. The served him with supper and tobacco for his pipe and amused
peddler experienced unwanted joy at everyone else’s discomfort, him with the game of cards also. He showed him the thirty
pain at being ensnared by the devilish ways of the world. He kronor from his pouch which he received as a payment. He
was also philosophical and thoughtful. While plodding along was happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness. He
the road, left to his own meditations, the peddler was struck by valued the presence of the peddler so much that he shared
the idea that this world around him with its lands and cities is a his confidences generously with him.
big rattrap. It had never existed for any other purpose than to set
baits for its people. On the other hand, begging and petty thievery
occasionally were his means of livelihood.
He is not morally upright. He does not even spare his host, the old
crofter and steals his 30 kronors. He is an opportunist; takes advantage
of situations. But the essential goodness in him is awakened through
love and understanding of Miss Elda Willmansson.