Question

What christmas present did Edla receive from the peddler? Why did she give a little cry fo joy?

Hint:

In "The Rattrap," the theme of transformation is central. The Christmas gift is the climax of this transformation. When answering, focus on the symbolic meaning of the gift—it represents the peddler's redemption and validates Edla's philosophy of kindness.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question has two parts. First, it asks to identify the Christmas gift that the peddler left for Edla Willmansson. Second, it asks for the reason behind her joyful reaction upon receiving it.
Step 2: Identifying the Christmas Present:
Before leaving the ironmaster's house, the peddler left a package for Edla as a Christmas present. The gift consisted of three items:
1. A small rattrap.
2. Three wrinkled ten-kronor notes, which was the money he had stolen from the old crofter.
3. A letter addressed to Edla.
Step 3: Explaining Edla's Joy:
Edla gave a "little cry of joy" for several profound reasons:
1. Proof of Transformation: The gift was concrete proof that her compassion and respect had awakened the essential goodness within the peddler. He had not betrayed her trust.
2. Restitution: By returning the stolen thirty kronor, the peddler had rectified his mistake and cleared his conscience, showing a genuine change of heart.
3. Living up to an Ideal: In the letter, he signed himself as "Captain von Stahle," the respectable identity she had bestowed upon him. This showed that he wanted to live honorably, as a real captain would.
Her joy stemmed from the success of her belief that a person can be changed through understanding and kindness. It was the victory of goodness over cynicism.