Question

The peddler comes out as a person with a subtle sense of humour. How does this serve in lightening the seriousness of the theme of the story and also endear him to us?

Answer 1

The peddler displays a discreet sense of humor, evident in his interactions with the ironmaster and his daughter once his true identity is exposed. Unperturbed by the prospect of being left destitute or facing imprisonment, he amuses the ironmaster with his rattrap metaphor. His letter accompanying the Christmas gift to Edla exemplifies his ability to provoke laughter at his own expense. In doing so, he adds a touch of levity to the story's overarching seriousness, endearing himself to the audience.