The Rattrap
by Selma Lagerlöf
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Told in the manner of a fairy tale and set amid the iron mines of Sweden, the story follows a poor, homeless peddler who sells small wire rattraps and survives by begging and petty thievery. He amuses himself with the idea that the whole world is a giant rattrap that baits people with riches and joys, then snaps shut. One night a lonely old crofter shelters him, feeds him and shows him thirty kronor earned from his cow; the peddler repays this kindness by stealing the money. Lost and frightened in the forest, he realises he too has been caught in the world's rattrap. He reaches the Ramsjö ironworks, where the ironmaster mistakes him for an old regimental comrade and, though the peddler declines, the ironmaster's kind daughter Edla persuades him to come home for Christmas. When his theft is discovered, Edla still treats him with compassion. Moved by her goodness, the peddler leaves the stolen money to be returned to the crofter, along with a small rattrap as a Christmas gift and a note signing himself 'Captain von Stahle', proving that even a fallen man can be redeemed by kindness.
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The story explores the idea that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through love and understanding. The 'rattrap' becomes a metaphor for the temptations of the world that trap people who reach for its baits.
The peddler and his philosophy
A poor peddler wanders the roads selling wire rattraps, begging and stealing to survive. Bitter towards a world that has been unkind to him, he entertains himself with the thought that the whole world is a big rattrap that offers riches, joys, shelter and food as bait, and snaps shut on anyone who is tempted.
Kindness betrayed
A lonely old crofter welcomes the peddler, shares his porridge, tobacco and confidences, and proudly shows him thirty kronor kept in a leather pouch. The next morning, after they part, the peddler returns, smashes a window, steals the money and flees into the woods. Wandering in circles, he realises he has fallen into the world's rattrap: lured by the bait of thirty kronor, he is now trapped by his own crime.
Mistaken identity at Ramsjö
Guided by hammer strokes, the peddler reaches the Ramsjö ironworks. The ironmaster mistakes him for Nils Olof, an old regimental comrade, and warmly invites him home. Fearing the stolen money would be discovered, the peddler declines, but the ironmaster's gentle daughter Edla Willmansson comes and, with genuine friendliness, persuades him to spend Christmas with them, promising he may leave as freely as he came.
Redemption through compassion
In daylight the ironmaster realises his mistake and wants to send the peddler away, but Edla insists on treating him kindly as promised. Though the peddler's theft from the crofter is revealed, Edla's compassion transforms him. When the family returns from church, they find he has left, but he has also left the stolen thirty kronor to be returned to the crofter, a rattrap as a Christmas present, and a note thanking Edla and signing himself 'Captain von Stahle.' Her faith has raised him to act like the gentleman she believed him to be.