The Rattrap Summary | Explanation
- by Selma Lagerlof
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The Rattrap Summary in English
A man went round selling small rattraps of wire. His business was not profitable. He has to take to begging or small thieving sometimes.
His life was very sad. During his wanderings, he often thought of his rattraps. One day he began to think that the whole world was just a big rattrap. Some people were caught in the trap while others were still circling round the bait.
One dark evening, this tramp took shelter with a lonely old man who lived in a lone cottage by the roadside. The man served him generously the whole night. But while leaving in the morning, the tramp stole the old man's thirty kronor placed in a leather pouch.
In order to escape being caught, the tramp took his way through a forest. But it was a confusing forest. By evening, he found that he had been roaming about the same place from where he had started. He was feeling dead tired.
The tramp recalled the thirty kronor in his pocket. He thought about the world as a rattrap. Now he thought that his own turn had come.
It was the time of late December evening. It was getting dark and he was afraid. Suddenly, he heard the hard regular thumping of a hammer. He got up and walked in the direction of the sound.
It was a forgery of the Ramsjo Ironworks. The master smith allowed him to stay there and warm himself. He was in wet rags and had a long beard. But suddenly, the ironmaster came on his nightly inspection. When he looked at the stranger closely, he took him for an old regimental acquaintance. "Captain von Stahle," he said in surprise. He pressed him hard to go with him to his house. But the tramp fell embarrassed and he refused firmly. At last the ironmaster went away.
Before half an hour had passed, a carriage stopped at the forgery door. It was the
ironmaster's daughter who had been sent by her father to fetch the peddler. She had come with a servant. The valet(servant) was holding a long fur coat on his arm.
The young girl spoke to the peddler very softly. She was not pretty but she was very
humble. She was able to win the peddler's confidence. She wanted him to give them
company on the Christmas Eve. She assured him that he would be free to leave the place whenever he liked.
The peddler agreed to go with the young girl. He accepted the fur coat and threw it over his rags. The young girl was very happy to think that she would be able to feed a poor hungry man on Christmas Eve.
The peddler spent the night at the manor house. In the morning the valet washed him, cut his hair and also shaved him. He was also dressed well in the ironmaster's clothes.
But when the ironmaster looked at him in the broad daylight, he realised his mistake. The man was none of his old acquaintances. He at once ordered him to get out of the house.
But the young girl at once pleaded on the peddler's behalf. She said that it was none of the peddler's fault. It was just a mistake. Moreover, she didn't want to lose the joy of entertaining a poor hungry person on Christmas Eve. Looking at his daughter's sentiments, the father gave in at last. But he said, "I only hope you won't have to regret this."
Both the ironmaster and his daughter served the peddler as best as they could. They made him participate in each of the festivities. But the peddler spent most of his time sleeping on a sofa. It seemed that he had not been able to sleep for years.
Next morning, both the father and the daughter went to church for early morning service. The peddler was still asleep and they didn't think it proper to disturb him.
At the church, they heard that a man who went about selling rattraps, had robbed a poor old man of his thirty kronor. On hearing this, the young girl was badly upset.
But when they reached home, they learnt that the peddler had already left and had not taken anything at all with him. Instead, he had left a small packet for the young girl as a Christmas present.
It filled the young girl with great joy. She at once opened the packet. It contained a little rattrap, three wrinkled ten-kronor notes and also a letter. The letter said, "Since you have been so nice to me all day long, I want to-be nice to you. You can give back the money to the old man on the roadside. The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in the world's rattrap if he had not been thought to be a captain."
-Captain von Stahle
The rattrap Summary in Hindi
एक आदमी तार के बने हुए छोटे-छोटे रैटट्रैप बेचा करता था। उसका काम लाभदायक नहीं था। उसे कई और भी मांगने और छोटी-मोटी चोरी का काम करने की जरूरत पड़ जाती थी।
उसका जीवन बहुत उदासी-भरा था अपनी यात्राओं के दौरान वह प्राय: अपने रैट्रैप्स के बारे में सोचा करता था।
एक दिन वह ऐसा सोचने लगा कि पूरा संसार मात्र एक प्रकार का बड़ा रैट्रैप था कुछ लोग पहले ही इस में बैठे थे जबकि अन्य इस ट्रैप के अंदर रखी प्रलोभन वाली चीज़ के चक्कर काट रहे थे।
एक अन्धेरी सायं को इस आवारा घूमने वाले आदमी ने सड़क किनारे एक छोटी सी कुटिया में अकेले रहने वाले एक बूढ़े आदमी के पास आश्रय लिया। आदमी ने पूरी रात बहुत उदारता से उसकी खातिर की। किन्तु प्रात:काल जाते हुए उस आवारा आदमी ने बूढ़े आदमी के तीस क्रोनोर चुरा लिए जोकि एक चमड़े की थैली में रखे हुए थे।
पकड़े जाने से बचने के लिए उस आवारा घूमने वाले आदमी ने एक जंगल में से अपना रास्ता ले लिया। किन्तु ये एक उलझन में डाल देने वाला जंगल था सायंकाल होने पर उसने देखा कि वह उसी जगह के गिर्द चक्कर काट रहा था जहां से उसने चलना शुरू किया था थकावट के मारे उसकी जान निकली जा रही थी।
उस आवारा घूमने वाले आदमी को अपनी जेब में पड़े हुए तीस क्रोनोर याद आए। वह संसार को एक रैट्रैप के रूप
में सोचने लगा। अब उसने सोचा कि उसकी अपनी बारी आ गई थी।
दिसम्बर के अन्तिम दिनों की सायं का समय था अन्धेरा हो रहा था और उसमें भय भर आया। अचानक उसे एक हथौड़े की बार-बार भारी थपथपाने की आवाज सुनाई दी। वह उठ खड़ा हुआ और आवाज वाली दिशा में चल दिया।
यह रमसजो आयरनवक्रस की एक भट्ठी थी। मुख्य लौहार ने उसे वहां रुकने और स्वयं को गर्म करने की इजाजत दे दी। उसने गीले चीथड़े पहने हुए थे और उसकी एक लम्बी दाढ़ी थी। किन्तु अचानक आयरनमास्टर अपनी रात्रिकालीन जांच पर वहां आ गया। जब उसने उस अजनबी को बहुत गौर से देखा तो उसने समझा कि वह उसका एक पुराना रेजिमेण्टल परिचित व्यक्ति था। 'कप्तान वोन स्टेहल,' उसने हैरानी सहित कहा। उसने उस पर बहुत दबाव दिया कि वह उसके साथ घर चले। किन्तु उस आवारा आदमी को बहुत घबराहट और लज्जा महसूस हो रही
थी और उसने दृढ़तापूर्वक इन्कार कर दिया। अन्त में आयरनमास्टर वहां से चला गया।
आधा घण्टा बीतने से पूर्व ही फोरजरी के दरवाजे पर एक बाघी आ कर रुकी। यह आयरनमास्टर की बेटी थी जिसे
उसके पिता ने उस फेरी लगाने वाले को लाने भेजा था वह एक नौकर के साथ आई थी। नौकर अपनी बाजू पर एक लम्बा फर कोट पकड़े हुए था।
युवा लड़की फेरी वाले के साथ बहुत कोमलतापूर्वक बोली। वह सुन्दर नहीं थी किन्तु बहुत विनीत थी। वह फेरी वाले के विश्वास को जीतने में समर्थ हो गई। वह चाहती थी कि वह क्रिसमस के पर्व पर वह उनका साथ दे। उसने उसे विश्वास दिलाया कि वह जब भी चाहेगा, उस जगह से जाने को स्वतन्त्र होगा।
फेरी वाला युवा लड़की के साथ जाने को सहमत हो गया। उसने फर वाले कोट को स्वीकार कर लिया और इसे अपने चीथड़ों के ऊपर पहन लिया। युवा लड़की यह सोच कर प्रसन्न थी कि वह क्रिसमस के पर्व पर एक गरीब भूखे आदमी को भोजन करा पाएगी।
फेरी वाले ने रात जमींदार के घर पर गुजारी । प्रात: काल नौकर ने उसे नहलाया, उसके बाल काटे और उसकी दाढी भी बनाई। उसे आयरनमास्टर के वस्त्रों में ठीक ढंग से सजा भी दिया गया।
किन्तु जब आयरनमास्टर ने उसे दिन की भरपूर रोशनी में देखा तो उसे अपनी गलती महसूस हो गई। वह आदमी उसका परिचित नहीं नहीं था। वह उसे तुरंत चले जाने को कहता है ।
किन्तु युवा लड़की ने तुरन्त फेरी वाले के पक्ष में तर्क देना शुरू कर दिया। उसने कहा कि इसमें फेरी वाले का बिल्कुल कोई दोष नहीं था यह मात्र एक गलती थी। इसके अतिरिक्त वह क्रिसमस के पर्व पर एक ग़रीब आदमी को भोजन, आदि खिलाने के आनन्द को खोना नहीं चाहती थी। अपनी लड़की की भावनाओं को देखते हुए पिता ने अन्त में हार मान ली। किन्तु उसने कह दिया, "मैं केवल इतनी आशा करता हूं कि तुम्हें इसके लिए पश्चाताप नहीं करना पड़ेगा।"
आयरनमास्टर और उसकी बेटी दोनों ने फेरी वाले की इतनी अच्छी तरह से खातिर की जितनी वे कर सकते थे। उन्होंने उसे त्योहार के प्रत्येक पर्व में हिस्सेदार बनाया। किन्तु फेरी वाले ने अपना अधिकतर समय एक सोफे के
ऊपर सोने में बिताया। ऐसा प्रतीत होता था कि वह अनेक वर्षों से सो नहीं पाया था।
अगली प्रातः पिता और बेटी दोनों प्रात: कालीन पूजा के लिए गिरजे को गए। फेरी वाला अब भी सोया हुआ था तथा उन्होंने उसे जगाना ठीक न समझा।
गिरजे में उन्हें पता चला कि एक आदमी जो रैटट्रैप बेचता हुआ घूमता रहता था, उसने एक ग़रीब बूढ़े आदमी के तीस क्रोनोर लूट लिए थे। यह सुन कर जवान लड़की बहुत परेशान हो उठी।
किन्तु जब वे घर पहुंचे तो उन्हें पता चला कि वह फेरी वाला पहले ही चला गया था तथा वह अपने साथ कुछ भी नहीं ले कर गया था। इसकी बजाए वह युवा लड़की के लिए क्रिसमस उपहार के रूप में एक छोटा-सा पैकट छोड़ गया था।
इस से युवा लड़की बहुत प्रसन्नता से भर गई। उसने तुरन्त पैकट को खोला। इस में एक छोटा-सा रैटट्रैप, तीन तुड़े - मुड़े हुए दस-दस क्रोनोर के नोट और एक पत्र भी था। पत्र में लिखा था, "क्योंकि आप दिन-भर मेरे प्रति भद्र रही हैं, मैं भी आप के प्रति भद्र होना चाहता हूं। आप सड़क किनारे वाले आदमी को उसके पैसे लौटा सकती हैं। रैटट्रैप उस चूहे की तरफ से आप के लिए एक क्रिसमस उपहार है जिसने संसार-रूपी रैट्रैप में फंस जाना था यदि उसे एक कप्तान न समझ लिया जाता।"
-कप्तान वोन स्टेहल
The rattrap important Questions and Answers
Q. 1. Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler?
Ans. Edla was deeply shaken when she heard at the church that the peddler was a thief. But after reading the letter and receiving her gift, she came to know what a gem the man really was. Naturally, she was very happy.
Q. 2. Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle ?
Ans. It was as a captain that he had been invited to the manor house. And it was as a captain that he had got all the opportunity to come out of the rattrap into which he had been caught.
Q. 3. What made the peddler accept Edla Willmansson's invitation ?
Ans. The girl seemed full of compassion for the peddler. Her manner was very friendly.The Peddler felt confidence in her. That was why he accepted her invitation.
Q. 4. What doubts did Edla have about the peddler ?
Ans. From the peddler's looks and behaviour, Edla doubted that he did not seem to have been an educated person. It seemed to her as if he had stolen something or had escaped from jail.
Q. 5. When did the ironmaster realize his mistake ?
Ans. The ironmaster looked at the peddler in the broad day light . Now he had been washed, his hair was cut, and he had been shaved. He was also well dressed. Now the ironmaster could clearly see that he had been mistaken in taking the tramp for an old regimental acquaintance.
Q. 6. What did the peddler say in his defence when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought he was?
Ans. The peddler said that it was not his fault. He had never pretended to be a former captain. He had shown himself only as a poor trader. He had begged that he should be allowed to stay at the forge. Thus the peddler tried to defend himself.
Q. 7. Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him ?
Ans. Edla was a very noble-hearted girl. She had thought of entertaining a poor hungry man on Christmas Eve. She had made great preparations for it. She did not want to let away this joy all at once. So she pleaded with her father to let the tramp stay with them for Christmas Eve. She was feeling real pity for him. She said, "He walks and walks the whole year long, and there is probably not a single place in the whole country where he is welcome and can feel at home." Each word spoken by the young girl shows the purity and compassion of her heart.
Q. 8. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap ?
Ans. The peddler had thirty kronor in his pocket. It was a bait that had trapped him. And now he was finding no way to get out of this trap.
The rattrap important Questions and Answers
Q. 9. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Ans. The ironmaster had taken the peddler for an old regimental acquaintance. He was moved to pity over his miserable condition. So he wanted to take him home and give him company on the Christmas Eve.
Q. 10. Why did the peddler decline the invitation ?
Ans. The peddler had thirty stolen kronor in his pocket. He was afraid that by going to the manor house, he would be throwing himself into the lion's den.
Q. 11. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap ?
Ans. While plodding his way, the man kept thinking of his rattraps. Suddenly one day, an idea came to him. He thought the whole world was also like a big rattrap. Some had
already been caught in the snare and the others were still circling round the bait.
Q. 12. The peddler comes out as a person with a great sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?
Ans.
The peddler is a poor man. He goes around selling rattraps of wire. His business is not profitable But he does not take it to heart. He takes to begging and petty thievery. He takes a very funny view of his business. He begins to think that the whole world is a big rattrap. All the things of comfort and luxury are mere baits for men. When anyone tries to touch these baits, the rattrap closes in on him. Then everything comes to an end. The peddler derives great joy from sach thoughts. The world had never been very kind to him. So it gives him joy to think ill of the world in this way. Even when he steals the old crofter's thirty kronor, he feels no prick in his conscience. He goes away like a happy-go-lucky fellow. In order to escape being caught, he takes his way through a forest. Thus the peddler's sense of humour lightens the seriousness of the theme. Also it endears the peddler to the reader's heart.
The rattrap Solutions
Q.13. The reader's sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified ?
Ans.
The peddler is indeed a nice fellow. He goes about selling small rattraps. His business is not profitable. So he takes to begging and petty thievery. Yet, we don't dislike him for that. He takes a very funny view of his business. He takes the whole world as a big rattrap. When he steals the old crofter's thirty kronor, he feels he has been caught in the rattrap. The ironmaster asks him to leave his house. At this, the peddler gives him a befitting reply. He tells him that he too will be caught in the world's rattrap one day. The peddler's real goodness comes to light when he leaves a packet for Edla as a Christmas present. The packet has in it a small rattrap, three wrinkled ten-kronor which he had stolen.
Q. 14. How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament ?
Ans.
The world has rightly been compared to a big rattrap. All the things of comfort and luxury are mere baits. All the lands, villages, cities, seas and countries are also nothing more than baits. These things have never existed for any other purpose. They offer joys and riches. They offer food and shelter. They offer heat and clothing. But they are all exactly as the rattrap offers cheese and pork as a bait for the rats. Rattraps have baits for rats. The rattrap of the world has baits of its own kind for men. As soon as anyone is tempted to touch the bait, the rattrap closes in on him. Then there is no escape. Some people have already landed themselves in the snare. They keep going round and round in it, finding no way to escape. There are others who are still circling found the bait. Sooner or later, they too will be caught in it.
Q. 15. Did the peddler respect the confidence reposed in him by the crofter ?
Ans. The crofter had himself shown the peddler the money kept in his pouch. He had in a way shown him the bait laid in a rattrap. The peddler was tempted by the bait and he was caught in the trap. He was also given to little thievery and he had no regard for the crofter's confidence.
Q. 16. Why did the peddler take his way through the forest ?
Ans. The peddler had the crofter's stolen money in his pocket. He was afraid that he would be chased and caught if he went by the highway. That was why he took his way through the forest.
Q. 17. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Ans. In order to escape being caught, the peddler had walked into a confusing forest. But now he could find no way out. He walked and walked and was tired to death. At once the thought of the world being a rattrap came to his mind. He thought that now his own turn had come.
Q. 18. Why did the ironmaster speak kindly to the peddler and invite him home?
Ans. The ironmaster had taken the peddler for an old regimental acquaintance. He was moved to pity over his miserable condition. It was Christmas Eve and he wanted to be nice to a poor hungry man, So he invited him to his home.
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