The Rattrap Summary

In the art of summarizing literature, one must distill the essence of the story, capturing its themes, characters, and the journey in between while maintaining the integrity of the author’s original message. “The Rattrap” by Selma Lagerlöf is a tale rich with symbolism and moral lessons, perfect for such an exercise. This article will guide you through the process of writing a comprehensive summary of “The Rattrap,” which is not just a recounting of events but an exploration of its deeper meanings.

Understanding “The Rattrap”

To create an effective summary, one must first understand the narrative and its underlying messages. “The Rattrap” tells the story of a disheveled peddler who earns his living by selling rattraps, but due to his impoverished circumstances, resorts to begging and thievery. His perspective on the world is one of cynicism, as he believes that the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap, with all its riches and joys merely baits that lead individuals into misery and entrapment.

The Peddler’s Journey

As the peddler travels, he is offered shelter by an old man who shares his loneliness and simple joys. The peddler is tempted and steals the man’s money, leading him to the ironmaster’s mansion, where a case of mistaken identity provides him with another opportunity to reflect on his life. The ironmaster, mistaking him for an old acquaintance, invites him to his home for Christmas, but it is the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla, who sees the peddler for who he truly is. Despite knowing his deceitful nature, she treats him with kindness and dignity, giving him the chance to experience unconditional generosity.

The Transformation

This act of kindness becomes the catalyst for the peddler’s transformation. It is a testament to the idea that trust and goodness can prevail over cynicism and despair. The peddler, moved by Edla’s compassion, decides to change his ways. He leaves behind the stolen money as a gift for Edla, along with a rattrap and a note that explains his metaphor of the world as a rattrap and how her kindness has helped him escape it.

Writing the Summary

When writing a summary of “The Rattrap,” consider the following structure:

Introduction

Introduce the author, the title of the story, and the main character. Provide a brief overview of the setting and the peddler’s initial worldview.

Body

The Peddler’s Philosophy

Detail the peddler’s philosophy of life as a rattrap and how he justifies his actions based on this outlook.

Key Events

Summarize the significant events that lead to the peddler’s transformation:

• The encounter with the old man and the theft.
• The invitation to the ironmaster’s home.
• The interactions with Edla and the peddler’s internal conflict.

Climax and Resolution

Discuss the climax of the story when the peddler decides to return the stolen money. Explain the resolution and the note he leaves, which serves as the moral conclusion of the story.

Conclusion

Reiterate the central themes of the story:

• The potential for human redemption.
• The power of kindness and compassion to effect change.
• The idea that our view of the world can be a trap in itself.

Example Summary

Example 1

In Selma Lagerlöf’s “The Rattrap,” a peddler who sells rattraps and occasionally resorts to petty theft wanders the countryside. He views the world as a rattrap, with riches and joys serving as bait that ultimately leads people into trouble. One night, after stealing money from a kind old man who had offered him shelter, the peddler finds himself at the home of a wealthy ironmaster who mistakes him for an old friend and invites him to stay for Christmas.

The peddler contemplates stealing from the ironmaster but is deterred by the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla, who treats him with compassion, seeing the man behind the ragged exterior. Her kindness prompts a profound change in the peddler, who leaves the stolen money behind as a Christmas present for Edla, along with a note explaining his changed perspective. Through this act, the peddler demonstrates that he has been freed from his own metaphorical rattrap by Edla’s generosity.

In summary, “The Rattrap” emphasizes the transformative power of human kindness and the possibility of redemption. It challenges the reader to consider their own perspectives and the rattraps in their lives.

Example 2

“The Rattrap” is a short story written by Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf. It presents a philosophical view of life through the experiences of a disenchanted peddler who sells rattraps. The story carries a moral message about the possibility of redemption and the transformative power of kindness.

The peddler, who is the main character, leads a nomadic and solitary life. He sells rattraps to make ends meet, but his business is not very profitable, which leads him to beg and steal to survive. He harbors a cynical view of the world, which he sees as a rattrap designed to entice people with riches and pleasures, only to trap them in the end.

One day, the peddler is given shelter by an old man who is kind and generous to him. Despite this kindness, the peddler steals the man’s money in a moment of weakness. He then wanders into the forest to escape and stumbles upon the iron mill owned by the ironmaster. Mistaken for an old friend, the peddler is invited to the ironmaster’s home for Christmas. However, upon realizing the mistake, the ironmaster wants to turn him away. But the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla Willmansson, insists on letting the peddler stay for Christmas as they had already invited him, showing him compassion and respect.

Edla’s kindness affects the peddler deeply. On Christmas morning, after Edla and her father discover that he is not the person they thought he was, they find that he has left without taking advantage of their wealth. Instead, he leaves behind the stolen money wrapped in the rattrap with a note for Edla. In the note, he confesses his wrongdoing and thanks her for her kindness, which has given him hope. He signs the note as “Captain von Stahle,” ironically taking on the identity the ironmaster had mistaken him for, but in a noble sense. The peddler’s decision to return the money symbolizes his redemption, and the rattrap, with its returned contents, represents the idea that even those who are trapped by their circumstances or misdeeds can be freed through acts of kindness.

The story ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that no one is beyond redemption and that the world, despite its rattrap-like dangers, has room for generosity and transformation. It illustrates how a single act of unconditional kindness can have a profound impact on a person’s life, allowing them to break free from the metaphorical rattraps that bind them.

Example 3

“The Rattrap” is a short story by Selma Lagerlöf that tells the tale of a lonely, disheartened peddler who by circumstance, becomes a thief but ultimately redeems himself through the kindness and empathy of others.

The peddler makes his meager living by selling rattraps, but the harshness of his life leads him to develop a cynical worldview. He comes to believe that the entire world is nothing more than a big rattrap—all the good things in life are merely bait to lure people into danger and disappointment. While contemplating this view, he is driven by his poverty to petty theft.

One day, after selling his rattraps, he manages to collect enough money to feel contented. However, he soon squanders his earnings and resorts to theft once again, stealing money from a crofter who had invited him into his home and shown him trust and kindness. With the stolen money, he escapes into the woods as he becomes a target for the law.

In his flight, the peddler is mistaken by the owner of the Ramsjo Ironworks for an old friend and is invited to the ironmaster’s home for Christmas. Initially tempted by the opportunity to con his way into a comfortable situation, the peddler is later moved by the compassion shown to him by the ironmaster’s daughter, Edla Willmansson, who sees something more in him than just a tramp.

Edla’s kindness and her treating him with respect and dignity lead to a profound change in the peddler. On Christmas Eve, after he is revealed for who he truly is, he leaves a Christmas gift for Edla: the rattrap containing the stolen money and a letter explaining that as a thief, he had been caught in the world’s rattrap but has been rescued by her compassion and trust.

In this letter, he refers to himself as Captain von Stahle, an identity he ironically adopts from the ironmaster’s initial mistaken greeting. This act of returning the money is symbolic of his redemption and his recognition of Edla’s humanity and kindness, which allowed him to see beyond his life’s hardships.

The story concludes on the notion that goodness and kindness can have a significant impact on a person, offering them a chance for redemption. It serves as a reminder that while the world can be harsh and unforgiving, it is the small acts of kindness that can free us from our metaphorical rattraps.

Final Thoughts

Writing a summary of “The Rattrap” involves more than just recounting events; it requires an understanding of the story’s moral core. The summary should convey how the peddler’sjourney from cynicism to hope encapsulates the story’s message about the human capacity for change in response to compassion and kindness. Remember to focus on the key plot points while interweaving the thematic elements that make “The Rattrap” a story of human redemption and the impact of altruism.

In conclusion, summarizing “The Rattrap” is an exercise in condensing a narrative that explores the depths of human nature while capturing the transformative power of kindness. It demonstrates that even those who feel trapped by their circumstances or worldview can find liberation through acts of unconditional compassion, and perhaps, change their course for the better.