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Edla Wilmansson
The man who owns Ramsjö Ironworks, and Edla Wilmansson’s father. Described as a “very prominent ironmaster,” he stops by to watch the work at his forge every day and night and inspect the quality of his products. The ironmaster was in the military in his younger days, as he mistakes the peddler for his “old regimental comrade,” Captain von Stahle.
The Ironmaster Quotes in The Rattrap
The The Rattrap quotes below are all either spoken by The Ironmaster or refer to The Ironmaster. 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:
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The Rattrap Quotes
The ironmaster did not follow the example of the blacksmiths, who had hardly deigned to look at the stranger. He walked close up to him, looked him over carefully, then tore off his slouch hat to get a better view of his face.
“But of course it is you, Nils Olof!” he said. “How you do look!”
The man with the rattraps had never before seen the ironmaster at Ramsjö and did not even know what his name was. But it occurred to him that if the fine gentleman thought he was an old acquaintance, he might perhaps throw him a couple of kronor. Therefore he did not want to undeceive him all at once.
“Yes, God knows things have gone downhill with me”, he said.
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Explanation and Analysis:
The peddler has wandered into the Ramsjö Ironworks seeking warmth and shelter, and the master smith agreed to let him sleep near the forge, barely sparing the stranger a glance and a nod. Later, the ironmaster of Ramsjö comes by to check on the work at his forge, and he notices the ragged stranger. The ironmaster then examines his face, and mistakes him for his old army comrade, Captain von Stahle. The peddler knows the ironmaster is mistaken but hopes to gain something from this misunderstanding, so he goes along with it. Though this is a case of mistaken identity, 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 eu
“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.”
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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.
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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
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The Ironmaster Character Timeline in The Rattrap
The timeline below shows where the character The Ironmaster appears in The Rattrap. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Rattrap
At the ironworks, the master smith and his young apprentice are working hard at the forge. Outside, it starts to storm,...
(full context)
The Ramsjö Ironworks are owned by a “very prominent” ironmaster, who comes to his forge every day and night to check on how the work...
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The peddler knows that the ironmaster is mistaken, but thinks that he might be able to get some money out of...
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...money would be like “throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den,” so he refuses the ironmaster’s offer. The ironmaster insists, saying that only his daughter is at home, and they would...
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Half an hour later, a carriage arrives at the forge and a woman enters—the ironmaster has sent his daughter to persuade the peddler to come stay with them. The young...
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...is won over by the woman’s friendliness, and he agrees to join her and the ironmaster.
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The next morning, which is Christmas Eve, the ironmaster comes into the dining room and discusses the peddler with his daughter. Edla says that...
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The ironmaster is angry, and the peddler makes no attempt to prolong his charade. He reminds the...
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This amuses the ironmaster and defuses his anger, but he still tells the peddler to leave immediately. Edla stops...
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The ironmaster grumbles to himself, and Edla continues, saying she doesn’t think it’s right to “chase away...
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The next morning, Edla and the ironmaster wake up early and go to the Christmas service at church, leaving the peddler still...
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When Edla and the ironmaster return to their house, they learn that the peddler has left, but he didn’t take...
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