The Rattrap

 

The Rattrap

1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?

Answer: The peddler got the idea from his own experience of selling rattraps. He thought that the whole world was like a big rattrap. The world offered people temptations such as riches, food, shelter and comfort, just as bait attracts a rat. Once a person was tempted, he got trapped.

2. Why was he amused by this idea?

Answer: The peddler was amused because he found the idea interesting and amusing. He enjoyed thinking of people being caught in the world's trap because of their greed and temptations. He also considered himself above such worldly temptations.

3. Did the peddler expect the kind of hospitality that he received from the crofter?

Answer: No, he did not. He expected people to be unfriendly and suspicious towards him. Instead, the crofter welcomed him, gave him food, shelter and a place to sleep, and treated him kindly.

4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?

Answer: The crofter lived alone in a little grey cottage and had no wife or children. He was happy to find someone with whom he could talk, so he became very friendly and talkative with the peddler.

5. Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?

Answer: The crofter showed the thirty kronor to the peddler because he was proud of his earnings. He had earned the money by selling the milk of his cow to the creamery. He wanted to share his success with someone and prove that he had actually earned that much.

6. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter?

Answer: No, he did not. The peddler later stole the money and escaped through the forest. Thus, he betrayed the crofter's trust. This act also became the first step in his own entrapment in the rattrap of the world.

7. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?

Answer: The peddler realised that he had fallen into the rattrap of the world when he got lost in the forest after stealing the crofter's thirty kronor. He wandered around in circles and finally reached the Ramsjö Ironworks. He felt that the money had become the bait that had trapped him.

8. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?

Answer: The ironmaster mistook the peddler for an old friend. He thought that the man was an old regimental comrade who had fallen on hard times. Feeling sympathy for him, he spoke kindly to him and invited him home for Christmas.

9. Why did the peddler decline the invitation?

Answer: The peddler declined the invitation because he was afraid. He had stolen the crofter's thirty kronor and feared that going to the ironmaster's house might lead to his arrest.

10. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson’s invitation?

Answer: The peddler accepted Edla's invitation because she spoke to him in a friendly and sympathetic manner. She assured him that he would be free to leave whenever he wished. Her kindness and gentle behaviour made him feel safe.

11. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler?

Answer: Edla noticed that the peddler looked frightened and suspicious. She thought whether he had stolen something or escaped from prison.

12. When did the ironmaster realise his mistake?

Answer: The ironmaster realised his mistake the next morning, when he saw the peddler properly in the daylight.

 

13. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?

Answer: He reminded the ironmaster that he had been honest about his identity and had never pretended to be someone else.

He also warned the ironmaster that the world was like a rattrap, and that the ironmaster himself should not get trapped by his mistake.

14. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?

Answer: Edla decided to let the peddler stay because she had promised him Christmas cheer. She felt that it would be wrong to throw him out after inviting him into their home. She also felt sympathy and compassion for him because he was poor and had never experienced kindness.

15. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?

Answer: Edla was happy because the peddler had changed for the better. He had returned the thirty kronor he had stolen from the crofter and left a rattrap as a gift, along with the money.

16. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle?

Answer: The peddler signed himself “Captain von Stahle” because Edla had treated him with the respect and kindness given to a captain, even after discovering that he was a thief.

By signing as Captain von Stahle, he showed that Edla's goodness had awakened his self-respect. He wanted to prove that he had truly become a better person and could rise above his former life of dishonesty.

Understanding the text

1. How does the peddler interpret the acts of kindness and hospitality shown by the crofter, the ironmaster and his daughter?

Answer: The peddler interprets their kindness differently.

• The crofter's hospitality does not change him. He accepts the food, shelter and company but betrays the crofter's trust by stealing his thirty kronor.
• He does not reveal his true identity, when the truth comes out, he defends himself by saying he had never claimed to be the captain.
• Edla treats him with genuine sympathy, respect and compassion, even after discovering that he is a thief.  As a result, he returns the stolen money and leaves a rattrap as a gift.

2. What are the instances in the story that show that the character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways?

The ironmaster and Edla are very different in their attitudes and behaviour.

Ironmaster	Edla
He is impatient and impulsive.	She is calm and thoughtful.
He invites the peddler because he thinks he is Captain von Stahle, an old acquaintance.	She accepts him even after learning that he is not a captain.
When he discovers the truth, he becomes angry and wants the peddler to leave.	She continues to show him kindness and compassion.
He is concerned about the family's reputation and safety.	She is more concerned about giving a poor man a pleasant Christmas.

3. The story has many instances of unexpected reactions from the characters to others' behaviour. Pick out instances of these surprises.

The story contains several surprising reactions:

1. The crofter welcomes the peddler warmly and gives him food, shelter and company.
2. The peddler repays this kindness by stealing the crofter's thirty kronor.
3. The peddler expects the ironmaster's invitation to be a trap, but the ironmaster actually wants to help him.
4. The ironmaster mistakes the peddler for an old friend.
5. When the ironmaster discovers his mistake, he becomes angry, but Edla still wants the peddler to stay.
6. Although the peddler is a thief, Edla treats him with respect and dignity.
7. Most surprisingly, the peddler returns the stolen money and leaves a rattrap as a gift.

These unexpected reactions make the story interesting and show how kindness can produce unexpected results.

4. What made the peddler finally change his ways?

The peddler changed because of Edla's genuine kindness, compassion and respect.

She treated him like a respectable human being even after discovering that he was not Captain von Stahle. She did not insult or punish him. Instead, she allowed him to enjoy the Christmas celebrations and gave him food, clothing and dignity.

5. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?

Answer: The rattrap is a powerful metaphor for human life and its temptations.

The peddler imagines the world as a rattrap. The world offers people different kinds of bait, such as money, food, comfort, luxury and power. When people become greedy and accept these temptations, they get trapped, just as a rat is caught by bait in a rattrap.

The peddler himself becomes an example of this idea. He steals the crofter's money because he is tempted by it. As a result, he becomes frightened and feels trapped.

However, the story also suggests that people can escape from this trap through goodness, love and compassion. Edla's kindness helps the peddler break free from his dishonest life.

Thus, the rattrap metaphor represents the temptations, weaknesses and moral struggles of human beings.

6. The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?

Answer: The peddler has a witty and humorous way of looking at life. His idea that the whole world is a rattrap is itself humorous. He imagines people being caught in the world's trap because of the various temptations it offers.

There are also humorous situations, such as:

• The peddler thinking that the ironmaster's invitation is like entering the lion's den.
• His ironic observation that the money itself becomes the bait that traps him.
• His final signing of the letter as “Captain von Stahle”, even though he was never actually a captain.

This humour makes the story less gloomy despite its serious themes of poverty, temptation, crime and moral transformation.

It also makes the peddler more likeable. Although he is a thief, his wit, imagination and self-awareness make us understand him as a flawed human being rather than simply a criminal. His final transformation makes us feel sympathy and affection for him.