THE RATTRAP

1. Characters

• The Peddler

  • Adjectives: Cynical, Resentful, Resourceful, Vulnerable, Transformative

  • Character Sketch: A poor, wandering peddler selling rattraps, he views the world cynically, seeing it as a giant trap. His encounter with kindness at the ironmaster’s home, especially from Edla, transforms him, revealing his capacity for redemption and gratitude.

• Edla Willmansson

  • Adjectives: Compassionate, Trusting, Kind-hearted, Perceptive, Influential

  • Character Sketch: The ironmaster’s daughter, Edla, is compassionate and treats the peddler with genuine kindness and respect. Her warmth and empathy ultimately inspire the peddler to reform himself, serving as the catalyst for his redemption.

• The Ironmaster

  • Adjectives: Wealthy, Strict, Proud, Quick-tempered, Gullible

  • Character Sketch: The ironmaster mistakes the peddler for an old regimental comrade and invites him home. Though stern and somewhat self-centered, he shows a softer side through his hospitality, even though it’s based on a misunderstanding.

2. Central Theme and Subthemes in the Chapter

• Central Theme:

  • The redemptive power of kindness and how empathy can lead to personal transformation.

• Subthemes:

  • Materialism vs. Moral Values: The story contrasts the trap of material possessions with true human values like compassion.

  • Isolation and Loneliness: The peddler’s isolation and cynicism reflect the emotional impact of poverty and lack of human connection.

  • Human Nature and Redemption: The story highlights that kindness and understanding can redeem even the most cynical individuals.

  • Irony and Deception: The irony of the peddler being mistaken for a friend of the ironmaster reveals themes of deception and mistaken identity.

  • The World as a Rattrap: The metaphor of life as a trap suggests that material desires and temptations can ensnare individuals, preventing them from realizing their true selves.

3. Relatively Tough Words with Meanings

• Interloper: A person who intrudes into a place or situation where they are not welcome.

• Impoverished: Poor or lacking in resources.

• Crofter: A person who rents and works on a small farm.

• Magnanimous: Generous, especially toward someone less powerful.

• Inconspicuously: In a way that is not easily noticed or does not attract attention.

• Wretched: In a very poor or unhappy state.

• Forge: A blacksmith’s workshop where metal is heated and shaped.

• Wistful: Having a feeling of vague or regretful longing.

• Impenetrable: Impossible to pass through or understand.

4. List of Good Expressions and Phrases for Answer Writing

• "The world itself was a big rattrap."

• "It gave him unwonted joy to think ill of people."

• "His days were filled with the endless plodding."

• "She was not at all pretty, but seemed modest and shy."

• "The young girl’s compassion melted the iron in him."

• "The whole forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon him."

• "Edla’s gentle and compassionate treatment lifted the peddler from his wretched state."

• "He had let himself be fooled by bait and had been caught."

5. Use of Poetic Devices and Figures of Speech

• Metaphor:

  • "The world was a big rattrap" - the world is likened to a rattrap, symbolizing the way people are ensnared by temptations.

  • "Forest, like an impenetrable prison" - compares the forest to a prison, symbolizing the peddler’s feelings of entrapment.

• Simile:

  • "Felt as though he had been caught in a rat trap" - the peddler’s experiences in the story resemble a rat caught in a trap.

• Irony:

  • The peddler, who deceives and steals from others, is shown kindness and generosity, which leads to his transformation. Additionally, the irony of the ironmaster mistaking him for an old friend and bringing him into his home despite the peddler's intentions.

• Personification:

  • "The forest closed in upon him" - the forest is given human qualities, emphasizing the peddler’s sense of being trapped and lost.

• Symbolism:

  • The rattrap itself is a symbol of life’s materialistic temptations that trap people, leading them away from true happiness.

1. The Peddler’s Cynical Outlook on Life

• Introduction to the Peddler:

  • A poor peddler - wanders from place to place - sells rattraps - views world with cynicism - resents society - lives a lonely, impoverished life - steals occasionally for survival.

• The World as a Rattrap Metaphor:

  • Peddler philosophizes - sees world as a “big rattrap” - believes material temptations trap people like bait in a rattrap - finds comfort in this idea - his cynicism deepens.

2. The Crofter’s Kindness and Betrayal

• Shelter and Hospitality at the Crofter’s Home:

  • Crofter takes in peddler - treats him with kindness - offers food and shelter - shares stories about his life - shows him the thirty kronor he earned selling cow’s milk - builds trust with peddler.

• The Peddler’s Betrayal:

  • Peddler, tempted by money - steals the crofter’s thirty kronor - escapes at dawn - feels guilty but justifies theft by thinking of it as “bait” - his belief in the world as a rattrap is reinforced.

3. Lost in the Forest and Realization of His Predicament

• The Forest Trap:

  • Peddler flees to forest - aims to escape punishment - forest thick and confusing - feels trapped and lost - metaphorically caught in the “rattrap” of his own greed - panics as darkness falls.

• Self-Reflection and Helplessness:

  • Realizes he’s fallen into his own rattrap - feels helpless - thinks about his life choices - senses despair - begins to regret his actions - journey through the forest symbolizes his moral dilemma.

4. Mistaken Identity at the Ironworks

• Encounter with the Ironmaster:

  • Finds shelter at ironworks - Ironmaster mistakes him for an old friend - Captain von Stahle - invites him home - peddler initially refuses - tempted by thoughts of comfort - agrees reluctantly.

• Hospitality Based on Deception:

  • Ironmaster’s kindness is based on mistaken identity - peddler feels guilty but doesn’t correct him - conflicted between accepting help and revealing truth - accepts for comfort and warmth.

5. Edla’s Compassionate Intervention

• Edla’s Kindness:

  • Edla Willmansson, Ironmaster’s daughter, arrives - perceives his plight - shows genuine compassion - doesn’t judge his appearance - convinces him to stay despite his hesitation.

• A Newfound Trust:

  • Edla’s kindness touches peddler - experiences trust and respect - feels a deep sense of guilt for deceiving the family - accepts their hospitality but remains uneasy.

6. Christmas Morning and Revelation

• Identity Revealed:

  • Christmas Day - Ironmaster sees peddler cleaned up - realizes he isn’t Captain von Stahle - feels betrayed - peddler feels shame but defends himself - admits he never pretended to be someone else.

• Edla’s Decision to Show Kindness:

  • Ironmaster wants to turn him out - Edla intervenes - shows kindness - insists they let him stay - wants him to experience warmth of Christmas - her compassion leaves a deep impact on him.

7. The Peddler’s Redemption and Gift

• Departure and the Gift:

  • Peddler leaves the next day - leaves a small gift for Edla - includes a rattrap with thirty kronor - heartfelt note addressed to “Miss Willmansson” - thanks her for kindness - admits he was trapped but her kindness “released” him.

• Message of Redemption:

  • Note expresses gratitude - peddler now sees world differently - acknowledges her as his “savior” - transformed by her kindness - renounces his cynical outlook - chooses honesty over deception.

8. Final Reflection and the Moral Lesson

• Message of the Rattrap:

  • The rattrap becomes a symbol - represents human weaknesses, temptations - story underscores that compassion and kindness can redeem anyone - demonstrates how empathy has the power to transform lives.

Master Passage

In Deep Water, William Douglas explores themes of fear, resilience, and personal triumph. Haunted by a childhood trauma at the beach, Douglas develops an intense fear of water, which intensifies after a near-drowning experience at the Y.M.C.A. pool. Overcome by terror, he feels a “curtain of life” descending, which leaves him profoundly shaken. Determined to conquer this fear, Douglas employs a swimming instructor, who teaches him techniques that gradually rebuild his confidence. Through persistent effort, he faces his fear in various settings, including lakes, until he finally feels free. Douglas reflects on Roosevelt’s words, “All we have to fear is fear itself,” realizing that facing fear leads to peace and self-discovery. His story emphasizes that confronting one’s fears not only builds courage but also restores control and freedom over one’s life.