Edla Wilmansson Character Analysis in The Rattrap

The daughter of the ironmaster, Edla is described as “not at all pretty, but […] modest and quite shy.” She is exceptionally kind, convincing the peddler to come to her house and then convincing her father to let the peddler stay for Christmas Eve, even when he is revealed to not actually be Captain von Stahle. Edla is also wise and perceptive, as she can immediately tell that the peddler is afraid, and has probably committed some crime that he is running from. She is the most positive figure in the story, and her compassion and generosity are the reason for the peddler’s transformation.

Edla Wilmansson Quotes in The Rattrap

The The Rattrap quotes below are all either spoken by Edla Wilmansson or refer to Edla Wilmansson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

She looked at him compassionately, with her heavy eyes, and then she noticed that the man was afraid. “Either he has stolen something or else he has escaped from jail”, she thought, and added quickly, “You may be sure, Captain, that you will be allowed to leave us just as freely as you came. Only please stay with us over Christmas Eve.”

She said this in such a friendly manner that the rattrap peddler must have felt confidence in her.

“It would never have occurred to me that you would bother with me yourself, miss,” he said. “I will come at once.”

Related Characters: Edla Wilmansson (speaker), The Peddler / The Stranger (speaker)

Related Symbols: Rattraps

Explanation and Analysis:

After the peddler rejects the ironmaster’s offer to come stay at his manor house for Christmas Eve, the ironmaster leaves and then sends his daughter, Edla Willmansson, to try and persuade the peddler instead. When she sees him, Edla recognizes that the peddler is afraid, and discerns that he must have committed some kind of crime and so does not want to join the ironmaster at his home. Here Edla shows herself to be not only compassionate but also perceptive and empathetic, as she recognizes the peddler’s plight but still offers her kindness. Her father’s generosity depends on the peddler Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut oc

“I am thinking of this stranger here,” said the young girl. “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. Wherever he turns he is chased away. Always he is afraid of being arrested and cross-examined. I should like to have him enjoy a day of peace with us here—just one in the whole year.”

The ironmaster mumbled something in his beard. He could not bring himself to oppose her.

“It was all a mistake, of course,” she continued. “But anyway I don’t think we ought to chase away a human being whom we have asked to come here, and to whom we have promised Christmas cheer.”

Related Characters: Edla Wilmansson (speaker), The Peddler / The Stranger, The Ironmaster

Explanation and Analysis:

This is a major turn in the story, as the ironmaster recognizes that he was mistaken—the homeless peddler is not actually his old army comrade Captain von Stahle—and tries to kick the peddler out or even have him arrested, but Edla stops her father and declares that she wants the peddler to stay. Here she gives her reasoning for her decision and manages to convince her father, though he grumbles about it. As her speech illustrates, Edla’s compassion is not naïve, but is rooted in empathy and an understanding of the lonely, harsh life the peddler usually leads. She emphasizes Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est.

As soon as they got up from the table he went around to each one present and said thank you and good night, but when he came to the young girl she gave him to understand that it was her father’s intention that the suit which he wore was to be a Christmas present—he did not have to return it; and if he wanted to spend next Christmas Eve in a place where he could rest in peace, and be sure that no evil would befall him, he would be welcomed back again.

The man with the rattraps did not answer anything to this. He only stared at the young girl in boundless amazement.

Related Characters: The Peddler / The Stranger, The Ironmaster, Edla Wilmansson

Related Symbols: Rattraps

Explanation and Analysis:

On the day of Christmas Eve, Edla continues to show great kindness to the peddler, who slowly has his cynical, opportunistic “rattrap” worldview overturned by the experience of true human compassion. The rattrap philosophy assumes that the world is a cruel, antagonistic place, and has no room for kindness that is freely given and expects nothing in return. The peddler is thus amazed, and though the narrative doesn’t portray his thoughts in this moment, it later becomes clear that he is rethinking his life because of Edla’s actions. Edla and the ironmaster gifting the peddler the suit (which the peddler Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque

“Honoured and noble Miss,

“Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want to be nice to you, in return, as if I was a real captain—for I do not want you to be embarrassed at this Christmas season by a thief; but you can give back the money to the old man on the roadside, who has the money pouch hanging on the window frame as a bait for poor wanderers.

“The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in this world’s rattrap if he had not been raised to captain, because in that way he got power to clear himself.

“Written with friendship

And high regard,

“Captain von Stahle.”

Related Characters: The Peddler / The Stranger (speaker), Edla Wilmansson, The Old Man / The Crofter

Related Symbols: Rattraps

Explanation and Analysis:

This is the text of the letter that the peddler leaves for Edla, along with the crofter’s stolen money and a present of a rattrap. These lines also close the story. The letter shows the true extent to which the peddler has been transformed by Edla’s understanding and compassion, and how he has found a new sense of identity for himself in the process, having “been raised to captain” by her kindness. Notably, the peddler doesn’t just return the stolen money, but also leaves as a present the only thing he has to offer: a rattrap. As an upper-class woman, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid is

Edla Wilmansson Character Timeline in The Rattrap

The timeline below shows where the character Edla Wilmansson appears in The Rattrap. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...pretty, but […] modest and quite shy,” wakes the sleeping stranger and introduces herself as Edla Willmansson. (full context)

Edla speaks kindly to the peddler, saying she is sorry that he has fallen on such... (full context)

Edla offers the peddler a fur coat, which he puts on over his rags, and he... (full context)

...Eve, the ironmaster comes into the dining room and discusses the peddler with his daughter. Edla says that the peddler doesn’t seem like an educated man, but the ironmaster assures her... (full context)

...the ironmaster and defuses his anger, but he still tells the peddler to leave immediately. Edla stops him, however, and says that she wants the stranger to stay with them. The... (full context)

The ironmaster grumbles to himself, and Edla continues, saying she doesn’t think it’s right to “chase away a human […] to whom... (full context)

...only waking up for meals, and once to see the lighted Christmas tree. At dinner, Edla tells the peddler that it is her father’s intention that he keep the suit he... (full context)

The next morning, Edla and the ironmaster wake up early and go to the Christmas service at church, leaving... (full context)

When Edla and the ironmaster return to their house, they learn that the peddler has left, but... (full context)

The letter is addressed to Edla, written in the peddler’s “large, jagged” handwriting. In it, he thanks her for being so... (full context)

Edla Wilmansson Character Analysis

Edla Wilmansson Quotes in The Rattrap

The Rattrap Quotes

Edla Wilmansson Character Timeline in The Rattrap