Question

How do the peddler from ‘The Rattrap’ and ‘the office boy’ from ‘Poets and Pancakes’ compare in terms of their frustration, status, and grudges against others?

Hint:

While comparing characters, discuss both similarities and differences, and connect them to the story’s message or outcome.

Answer 1

Both the peddler in The Rattrap and the office boy in Poets and Pancakes represent individuals trapped in low status and unfulfilled aspirations. The peddler is a lonely vagabond who resents society for rejecting him and sees the world as a giant rattrap—full of bait and deception. His frustration manifests in stealing from the kind crofter who had offered him shelter. Similarly, the office boy nurtures dreams of stardom but finds himself stuck in the monotonous role of mixing paints in the make-up room. He vents his bitterness by mocking his co-workers and ridiculing their success, blaming everyone but himself for his failures. Both characters bear grudges — the peddler against the social system that marginalizes him, and the office boy against authority and missed opportunities. However, their responses to their condition differ significantly. The peddler undergoes a transformation after encountering compassion and dignity at the ironmaster’s house. He acknowledges his wrongdoings and redeems himself by returning the stolen money. In contrast, the office boy remains cynical, arrogant, and deluded about his importance. The key difference lies in the peddler’s capacity for introspection and change, while the office boy remains stagnant, consumed by his dissatisfaction and ego.