Symbols and Themes in The Rattrap

In The Rattrap by Selma Lagerlöf, symbols and themes are used effectively to convey deeper meanings and themes. Here are the key ones:

Symbols:

1. The Rattrap:

Represents life's temptations and the traps of materialism and greed. The peddler believes the world is like a rattrap that lures people with riches, power, and pleasures, only to ensnare them in suffering and regret.

2. Ironmaster’s Home (Contrast):

Symbolizes warmth, generosity, and redemption, contrasting with the cold, harsh world outside. The hospitality offered by Edla changes the peddler’s perspective.

3. Christmas Season:

Symbolizes forgiveness, compassion, and the spirit of giving. It sets the stage for the peddler’s transformation, highlighting themes of redemption and human kindness.

4. Money (Stolen Kronor):

Represents the moral dilemma and guilt that trap the peddler in his own rattrap. Returning the money symbolizes his redemption and newfound integrity.

Themes 

1. Loneliness and Isolation:

The peddler’s wandering life reflects human isolation and detachment. His eventual interaction with Edla symbolizes the importance of connection and empathy in overcoming this solitude.

2. Redemption and Transformation:

The recurring theme of change is evident as the peddler transforms from a cynical thief to a man of conscience, signing as Captain Von Stahle, thanks to the kindness shown to him.

3. Human Compassion:

Throughout the story, acts of kindness, particularly from Edla, serve as the driving force for positive change, emphasizing the power of empathy.

4. Deception vs. Truth:

The peddler deceives others and himself, but he ultimately confronts the truth about life and morality through his experiences at the Ironmaster’s home.

These symbols and themes interweave to highlight the story's central themes of human kindness, the pitfalls of materialism, and the possibility of redemption.