What is the main symbol in the rattrap by selma?

Answer 1

In Selma Lagerlöf's "The Rattrap," the main symbol is the rattrap itself, which represents the struggles and entrapments of life. It serves as a metaphor for how people can become ensnared in their own circumstances and desires, much like a rat caught in a trap. The rattrap also reflects the theme of redemption, as the protagonist, who initially sees life as a series of traps, ultimately finds compassion and connection that leads him to freedom. Thus, the rattrap encapsulates both the despair of isolation and the possibility of liberation through human kindness.