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The Rattrap

NCERT Class 12 · English Based on NCERT Class 12 English textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter is a short story by Selma Lagerlöf about a poor rattrap peddler who believes the entire world is a giant rattrap that baits people with riches and joys only to trap them. The story explores how the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding, kindness, and love. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that compassion and trust can redeem even the most hardened individual, transforming a life of deceit into one of honesty and self-respect.
Key Concepts (14)
Rattrap
A small wire trap used to catch rats, baited with cheese or pork; metaphorically, the world itself which offers baits (riches, joys, shelter) to trap people.
e.g. The peddler sees the crofter's money pouch as a bait that led him to steal and get lost in the forest, just like a rat is lured by cheese.
Vagabond
A person who wanders from place to place without a fixed home or job, often living by begging or petty theft.
e.g. The rattrap peddler is a vagabond who plods along the road, selling rattraps and occasionally stealing to survive.
Crofter
A person who rents or owns a small farm, especially in Scotland or Sweden; in this story, an old man who worked at Ramsjö Ironworks and now lives alone with his cow.
e.g. The crofter is the old man who generously shares his porridge, tobacco, and company with the peddler, and later is robbed of his thirty kronor.
Ironmaster
The owner or manager of an ironworks; a wealthy and prominent person who oversees the production of iron.
e.g. The ironmaster at Ramsjö is a very prominent man whose greatest ambition is to ship out good iron to the market.
Peddler
A person who travels about selling small goods, often from door to door; the protagonist of the story who sells rattraps.
e.g. The peddler goes around selling small rattraps of wire, which he makes himself from material obtained by begging.
Unwonted joy
Unusual or unexpected happiness; pleasure that is not customary.
e.g. The world had never been kind to the peddler, so it gave him unwonted joy to think ill of it by comparing it to a rattrap.
Impenetrable prison
A prison that cannot be entered or escaped from; used to describe the forest closing in on the peddler after he steals the money.
e.g. The whole forest closed in upon the peddler like an impenetrable prison from which he could never escape.
Haughty consent
A proud and arrogant agreement or permission given without warmth.
e.g. The master blacksmith nodded a haughty consent to the peddler's request to stay in the forge, without honouring him with a single word.
Keep body and soul together
To manage to survive with the bare minimum of food and shelter.
e.g. The peddler had to resort to both begging and petty thievery to keep body and soul together.
Things have gone downhill
A situation has become worse or deteriorated.
e.g. The peddler says to the ironmaster, 'Yes, God knows things have gone downhill with me', pretending to be Captain von Stahle.
Captain von Stahle
The name of an old regimental comrade whom the ironmaster mistakes the peddler for; later used by the peddler as his signature on the Christmas gift letter.
e.g. The peddler signs the letter as 'Captain von Stahle' to show that he has been raised to a higher moral state by the kindness he received.
Edla Willmansson
The ironmaster's daughter, a modest, shy, and compassionate young woman who persuades the peddler to stay for Christmas and shows him genuine kindness.
e.g. Edla intercedes for the peddler even after learning he is a thief, insisting he should enjoy one day of peace and Christmas cheer.
Ramsjö Ironworks
A large iron plant with smelter, rolling mill, and forge, now closed down, where the ironmaster and blacksmiths work; the setting for the second half of the story.
e.g. The peddler finds his way to Ramsjö Ironworks after getting lost in the forest, attracted by the hammer strokes from the mill.
Thirty kronor
The amount of money the crofter had saved from selling his cow's milk; the money that the peddler steals, leading to his guilt and eventual redemption.
e.g. The crofter shows the peddler three wrinkled ten-kronor bills, which the peddler later steals by smashing the window pane.
How It Works
The peddler's philosophy of the world as a rattrap
  1. Step 1: The peddler, while thinking about his rattraps, is struck by the idea that the whole world is nothing but a big rattrap.
  2. Step 2: He believes the world offers riches, joys, shelter, food, heat, and clothing as baits, exactly as a rattrap offers cheese and pork.
  3. Step 3: As soon as anyone lets himself be tempted to touch the bait, the world closes in on him, and everything comes to an end.
  4. Step 4: The peddler takes unwonted joy in thinking ill of the world in this way, and it becomes a cherished pastime to think of people who have been caught in the snare.
💡 Students often forget that the peddler's rattrap philosophy is a defensive, bitter reaction to his own miserable life, not a universal truth. The story ultimately disproves his philosophy through the kindness of Edla.
The peddler's theft and subsequent entrapment in the forest
  1. Step 1: The peddler stays with the crofter, who shows him his leather pouch containing thirty kronor.
  2. Step 2: The next morning, after leaving, the peddler returns, smashes a window pane, steals the pouch with the money, and hangs the empty pouch back in its place.
  3. Step 3: He turns off the public highway into the woods to avoid detection.
  4. Step 4: He walks and walks but the paths twist back and forth, and he realises he has been walking around in the same part of the forest.
  5. Step 5: He recalls his thoughts about the world and the rattrap, and realises his own turn has come — he has been fooled by a bait and caught.
  6. Step 6: The forest closes in on him like an impenetrable prison, and he sinks down in despair, thinking his last moment has come.
  7. Step 7: He hears the hammer strokes from an iron mill, summons his strength, and staggers toward the sound.
💡 Students must note that the peddler's entrapment is both literal (lost in the forest) and metaphorical (caught by his own greed). The forest is not a real prison but his guilt and fear create the feeling of being trapped.
The ironmaster's mistaken identity and invitation
  1. Step 1: The ironmaster enters the forge on his nightly round and sees the peddler warming himself by the furnace.
  2. Step 2: He looks the peddler over carefully, tears off his slouch hat, and mistakes him for his old regimental comrade, Nils Olof (Captain von Stahle).
  3. Step 3: The ironmaster invites the peddler to his home for Christmas, saying his wife is dead and his sons are abroad, and they need company.
  4. Step 4: The peddler declines repeatedly, fearing that going to the manor house would be like throwing himself into the lion's den because of the stolen thirty kronor.
  5. Step 5: The ironmaster sends his daughter Edla to persuade the peddler, and she succeeds with her friendly and compassionate manner.
  6. Step 6: The peddler accepts the fur coat and follows Edla to the manor house, but has evil forebodings.
💡 The ironmaster's kindness is based on a mistaken identity — he thinks the peddler is an old friend. Edla's kindness, in contrast, is genuine and unconditional, even after she learns the truth.
The revelation of the peddler's true identity and Edla's intercession
  1. Step 1: The next morning, the peddler is bathed, shaved, and dressed in the ironmaster's clothes.
  2. Step 2: The ironmaster sees him in broad daylight and realises his mistake — the man is not Captain von Stahle.
  3. Step 3: The ironmaster thunders, 'What does this mean?' and accuses the peddler of dishonesty.
  4. Step 4: The peddler defends himself by saying he never pretended to be anything but a poor trader, and that he pleaded to stay in the forge.
  5. Step 5: The peddler then delivers his rattrap speech, warning the ironmaster that a day may come when he himself gets caught in the trap.
  6. Step 6: The ironmaster laughs and orders the peddler to leave, but Edla intervenes and insists he should stay for Christmas.
  7. Step 7: Edla argues that they should not chase away a human being whom they invited and promised Christmas cheer, and her father gives in.
💡 Edla's intercession is the turning point of the story. She acts out of pure compassion, not because of any mistaken identity, and this unconditional kindness is what ultimately transforms the peddler.
The peddler's transformation and redemption
  1. Step 1: The peddler stays at the manor house for Christmas Eve, sleeping peacefully for the first time in years.
  2. Step 2: After the Christmas meal, Edla tells him the suit is a Christmas present and that he is welcome back next year.
  3. Step 3: The next morning, the ironmaster and Edla go to church and learn that the crofter has been robbed by a rattrap peddler.
  4. Step 4: They return home expecting the worst, but the valet informs them the peddler has left without taking anything.
  5. Step 5: The peddler left behind a small package for Edla — a rattrap containing the three stolen ten-kronor notes and a letter.
  6. Step 6: In the letter, signed 'Captain von Stahle', the peddler explains that because Edla treated him like a captain, he wants to be nice in return, and asks her to return the money to the old crofter.
  7. Step 7: The peddler writes that the rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in the world's rattrap if he had not been raised to captain, because in that way he got power to clear himself.
💡 The peddler's transformation is complete when he returns the stolen money and signs himself as 'Captain von Stahle' — the name the ironmaster mistakenly gave him. This shows that being treated with respect and kindness gave him the moral strength to redeem himself.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing the ironmaster's kindness with Edla's kindness
✗ The ironmaster and his daughter both showed kindness to the peddler, and both invited him home for Christmas.
→ The ironmaster's invitation was based on a mistaken identity — he thought the peddler was his old regimental comrade. Edla's kindness was genuine and unconditional; she invited him even after learning he was a thief.
✓ The ironmaster's kindness was conditional on mistaken identity, while Edla's kindness was unconditional and based on pure compassion, which is why it transformed the peddler.
⚠ Misinterpreting the rattrap metaphor as purely negative
✗ The rattrap metaphor shows that the world is evil and everyone is doomed to be trapped.
→ The story does not end with the peddler being trapped. The metaphor is initially used by the peddler to justify his bitterness, but the story shows that through kindness and love, one can escape the trap and redeem oneself.
✓ The rattrap metaphor initially represents the peddler's cynical view that the world traps people with baits, but the story ultimately disproves this by showing that kindness and understanding can free a person from the trap of greed and dishonesty.
⚠ Thinking the peddler returned the money because he was afraid
✗ The peddler returned the money because he was afraid of being caught by the sheriff after the ironmaster learned he was a thief.
→ The peddler had already left the manor house before the ironmaster returned from church. He returned the money voluntarily as a Christmas present to Edla, out of gratitude for her kindness, not out of fear.
✓ The peddler returned the money as a gesture of gratitude and redemption, inspired by Edla's unconditional kindness. He wanted to be nice to her in return, as if he were a real captain.
⚠ Confusing the crofter's motivation for showing his money
✗ The crofter showed his money to the peddler because he was proud and wanted to boast.
→ The crofter showed the money because the peddler seemed incredulous (disbelieving) when told the cow gave thirty kronor in a month. The crofter wanted to prove his statement, not to boast or tempt the peddler.
✓ The crofter showed the money to prove the truth of his claim about the cow's milk yield, because the peddler looked incredulous. He was trusting and generous, not boastful.
⚠ Thinking Edla was pretty and confident
✗ Edla was a pretty and confident young woman who easily persuaded the peddler.
→ The text explicitly states: 'She was not at all pretty, but seemed modest and quite shy.' Her power of persuasion came from her genuine compassion and friendly manner, not from beauty or confidence.
✓ Edla was not at all pretty, but was modest and shy. Her friendly and compassionate manner, however, inspired confidence in the peddler and persuaded him to accept the invitation.
Compare & Contrast
Attitude towards the peddler
Ironmaster
Edla Willmansson
The ironmaster's kindness is based on mistaken identity (he thinks the peddler is Captain von Stahle) and he quickly turns hostile when the truth is revealed. Edla's kindness is unconditional; she continues to treat the peddler with compassion even after learning he is a thief and a liar.
Trustworthiness and generosity
Crofter
Peddler (before transformation)
The crofter is trusting, generous, and lonely, sharing his food, tobacco, and company freely with a stranger. The peddler, before his transformation, is deceitful and ungrateful, repaying the crofter's hospitality by stealing his life savings of thirty kronor.
View of human nature
Peddler's initial philosophy (world as rattrap)
Peddler's final action (returning the money)
Initially, the peddler believes the world is a rattrap that baits people only to destroy them, reflecting his cynical and bitter view of human nature. Finally, by returning the stolen money and signing as 'Captain von Stahle', he demonstrates that human beings can rise above greed and dishonesty when treated with kindness and respect.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Short Answer question of 2-3 marks, 1 Long Answer question of 5-6 marks. Total: approximately 8-10 marks.
Most asked: The rattrap metaphor and its significance in highlighting human predicament · Character analysis of the peddler, Edla, and the ironmaster · The theme of redemption through kindness and love · Instances of unexpected reactions in the story · Why the peddler finally changed his ways
Don't skip: Long answer question on the theme of the rattrap metaphor and how it is used to highlight human predicament (5-6 marks); Character sketch of the peddler or Edla (5-6 marks); Question on the transformation of the peddler and the role of Edla's kindness (3-5 marks)
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. The rattrap peddler believes the whole world is a big rattrap that baits people with riches and joys only to trap them.
  2. The peddler steals thirty kronor from the crofter who had shown him kindness and hospitality.
  3. After stealing, the peddler gets lost in the forest, which closes in on him like an impenetrable prison.
  4. The ironmaster mistakes the peddler for his old regimental comrade, Captain von Stahle, and invites him home for Christmas.
  5. The peddler initially declines the invitation because he fears being caught for stealing the thirty kronor.
  6. Edla Willmansson, the ironmaster's daughter, persuades the peddler to come home with her through her friendly and compassionate manner.
  7. The next morning, the ironmaster realises his mistake when he sees the peddler in broad daylight and orders him to leave.
  8. Edla intercedes for the peddler, insisting he should stay for Christmas because they invited him and promised him cheer.
  9. The peddler sleeps peacefully at the manor house, experiencing safety and rest for the first time in years.
  10. The peddler leaves without stealing anything and returns the thirty kronor in a rattrap as a Christmas present for Edla.
  11. The peddler signs the letter as 'Captain von Stahle' to show that Edla's kindness raised him to a higher moral state.
  12. The story's central theme is that essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding and love.
  13. Edla is modest, shy, and not at all pretty, but her genuine compassion transforms the peddler's life.
  14. The crofter is a lonely old man who generously shares his food, tobacco, and company with the peddler.
  15. The ironmaster is proud and quick to judge, unlike his daughter who shows unconditional kindness.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. The peddler makes wire rattraps by —

  • A. purchasing materials from stores
  • B. begging for materials at stores and farms ✓
  • C. stealing wire from ironworks
  • D. trading with the old crofter

Answer: B — The text explicitly states he got material 'by begging in the stores or at the big farms,' and made them 'at odd moments.'

Q2. What does 'unwonted joy' mean in the context of the peddler's rattrap philosophy?

  • A. expected and familiar happiness from his business
  • B. unusual and unfamiliar pleasure from thinking ill of the world ✓
  • C. temporary sadness about his poverty
  • D. reluctant acceptance of his fate

Answer: B — 'Unwonted' means unusual or unfamiliar; the peddler takes uncommon pleasure in his cynical worldview because the world has never been kind to him.

Q3. Why did the old crofter display his thirty kronor to the peddler?

  • A. To ensure the peddler would leave the cottage
  • B. To test if the peddler would steal from him
  • C. To show off his prosperity and share his confidences with his lonely guest ✓
  • D. To hire the peddler for work at the ironworks

Answer: C — The text shows the crofter was 'happy to get someone to talk to in his loneliness' and was 'just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge,' revealing trust and pride in his earnings.

Q4. Immediately after stealing the money, the peddler avoids the public highway and enters the forest because —

  • A. he wants to enjoy nature and rest
  • B. he is trying to find the ironworks for employment
  • C. he fears being caught with stolen money and discovered ✓
  • D. the forest is a faster route to the nearest town

Answer: C — The text states: 'he realised, of course, that at first he dared not continue on the public highway, but must turn off the road, into the woods,' showing conscious evasion of detection.

Q5. The forest in the story functions as a symbol of —

  • A. natural beauty and freedom from society
  • B. the world itself—a trap from which there is no escape once tempted ✓
  • C. the ironworks and industrial progress
  • D. the crofter's property and wealth

Answer: B — The peddler explicitly recognizes his own predicament: 'Now his own turn had come...The whole forest...closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison,' paralleling his rattrap philosophy.

Q6. Which of the following is NOT true about the peddler's rattrap philosophy?

  • A. He believes the world offers false baits to tempt people into traps
  • B. He finds joy in thinking ill of the world because it has never been kind to him
  • C. He proves his philosophy is false by accumulating wealth and happiness ✓
  • D. He later becomes a victim of his own philosophy when he steals and gets lost

Answer: C — The peddler does not prove the philosophy false; instead, he becomes trapped himself, validating his cynical worldview and demonstrating its dark truth.

Q7. The irony in the peddler's story is that —

  • A. he sells rattraps but never uses them himself
  • B. he teaches that the world is a rattrap and then becomes trapped himself in the forest ✓
  • C. the old crofter is wealthier than the peddler despite his simple life
  • D. the peddler steals money from someone who showed him kindness

Answer: B — The peddler's philosophy claims everyone who touches bait gets trapped, and his theft of the thirty kronor places him exactly in that trapped position in the forest.

Q8. Read the extract: 'All at once he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had come.' This statement reveals that the peddler —

  • A. suddenly realizes the forest is more dangerous than the city
  • B. understands his theft has made him a victim of his own cynical philosophy ✓
  • C. decides to abandon his rattrap business and become a farmer
  • D. fears the old crofter will pursue him through the forest

Answer: B — The peddler directly connects his theft (touching the bait) with his philosophical belief that touching bait leads to entrapment, showing self-awareness of his trapped state.

Q9. The hammer strokes the peddler hears in the forest represent —

  • A. a warning to abandon his stolen money
  • B. the heartbeat of the forest itself
  • C. human civilization and a lifeline of hope amidst despair ✓
  • D. punishment from the ironworks owner for his crime

Answer: C — The peddler, 'thinking that his last moment had come,' hears the sound and immediately summons strength to move toward it, showing it represents rescue and human connection.

Q10. The story is told 'somewhat in the manner of a fairy tale' (HOTS). How does this narrative style enhance the tale's moral significance beyond a simple theft story?

  • A. It makes the story easier to remember and more entertaining
  • B. It elevates the peddler's personal misfortune into a universal fable about temptation, consequence, and the human condition ✓
  • C. It suggests the story is fictional and not meant to be taken seriously
  • D. It allows the author to avoid responsibility for criticizing the ironworks

Answer: B — Fairy-tale narration transforms a vagabond's crime and punishment into timeless moral wisdom about how temptation traps all humans, reflecting the author's belief that goodness and redemption are universal themes.

Flashcards

What is the peddler's main business and why does he resort to theft?

He sells homemade wire rattraps, but the business is unprofitable, so he begs and steals to keep body and soul together.

How does the peddler describe the world and why does this idea amuse him?

He sees the world as a big rattrap with baits (riches, food, shelter) that trap people who are tempted, and it amuses him because the world has never been kind to him.

Why does the old crofter show the peddler his thirty kronor?

He is lonely, generous, and proud of his earnings from his cow's milk production, so he shares his wealth and confidences with his guest.

What crime does the peddler commit and what happens immediately after?

He steals the thirty kronor through the cottage window, but gets lost in the forest and realizes he himself has been caught in the world's rattrap.

What sound does the peddler hear in the forest and what does it symbolize?

He hears hammer strokes from the Ramsjö Ironworks, symbolizing human civilization and hope of rescue from his self-made trap.

What is the significance of the story being told in a fairy-tale manner?

It elevates the peddler's journey from a mere theft story to a universal moral fable about temptation, consequence, and redemption.

How does the peddler's philosophy about the rattrap apply to himself?

He becomes his own proof of the philosophy—tempted by the bait (money), he touches it and becomes trapped in the forest like prey in a rattrap.

What does the old cottage and its owner represent in the story?

The cottage represents warmth and human kindness, and the crofter represents innocent goodness that trusts in the essential humanity of strangers.

Why is the peddler unable to leave the forest despite his attempts?

The twisting paths confuse him and he walks in circles, mirroring how greed and guilt trap the mind in an inescapable psychological prison.

What moment marks the turning point in the peddler's emotional state in the forest?

When he hears the hammer strokes and realizes people are near, he summons strength to move toward hope rather than accepting despair and death.

Important Board Questions

In 2 marks: What is the peddler's central philosophy about the world, and why does he find it amusing to think about it? [2 marks]

Define the rattrap metaphor (world offers baits, touching bait leads to entrapment) and explain his motive: the world has never been kind to him, so cynicism consoles him.

In 5 marks: Why does the peddler steal the thirty kronor from the crofter, and what immediate consequences follow this theft? Explain with reference to the text. [5 marks]

Show that greed/temptation drives the theft despite the crofter's kindness (he touches the bait). Follow with consequences: he enters the forest to avoid detection, gets lost in twisting paths, realizes he is trapped like prey in his own rattrap metaphor, and despairs—showing how his philosophy applies to himself.

In 6 marks (HOTS): Analyze how the story uses the forest as both a physical setting and a symbolic representation of the peddler's philosophical beliefs. What does his eventual hope (hearing the hammer strokes) suggest about Lagerlöf's view on human redemption? [6 marks]

Explain that the forest mirrors the rattrap world (confusing paths = inescapable bait, closed-in feeling = impenetrable prison). Show the peddler's self-awareness when he realizes 'his own turn has come.' Conclude that the hammer sounds (human civilization, help, connection) suggest redemption is possible—hope exists even for those trapped by their own choices, hinting that goodness and understanding (author's stated belief) can awaken even in cynical souls.

Assertion-Reason Questions for The Rattrap

Q1. Assertion (A):

The peddler's philosophy that 'the world is a big rattrap' emerged directly from his bitter personal experiences and hardship.

Reason (R):

The text explicitly states that the peddler created this philosophy because 'the world had never been very kind to him,' providing him with 'unwonted joy' to think ill of it.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why the peddler developed this cynical worldview. His suffering created the philosophical framework that brings him grim satisfaction.

Q2. Assertion (A):

The crofter's act of showing the peddler his thirty kronor was a mistake that led directly to his financial loss.

Reason (R):

The crofter was proud of his savings and wanted to share his joy with his guest, but this display of trust directly motivated the peddler's theft.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true: the crofter did make a poor judgment in displaying his wealth, and the text shows this was a motivating factor for the theft. However, the reason does not fully explain the assertion—the real 'mistake' was more about the crofter's naive trust in human nature than about his pride.

Q3. Assertion (A):

The peddler's theft of the thirty kronor proves that his rattrap philosophy is morally correct.

Reason (R):

By stealing from the kind crofter, the peddler demonstrates that everyone eventually falls into the world's trap and succumbs to temptation.

Answer: D — A is false but R is true — The assertion is false; the theft does not prove the philosophy correct—it illustrates it tragically and ironically, but proof requires broader evidence. The reason is also false; the peddler's theft demonstrates the philosophy's power as lived experience, but this is different from proving its moral correctness.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for The Rattrap

Case Study:

A young man from a poor rural village arrives at a clothing store in the city, barely able to afford a meal. The store owner, moved by his condition, offers him shelter for the night and shares a home-cooked meal. During dinner, the owner mentions a monetary award he received for business excellence worth significant money. The young man notices the certificate framed on the wall. That night, the young man takes the money from an unlocked drawer and leaves the house. Days later, while traveling through an unfamiliar industrial area trying to avoid authorities, he realizes he has been walking in circles and is now lost, desperate, and exhausted.

Q1. What is the primary similarity between this scenario and the peddler's story in 'The Rattrap'?

  • A. Both protagonists are dishonest people who steal from kind strangers
  • B. Both protagonists receive undeserved kindness but respond with betrayal, and subsequently find themselves trapped by their own choices ✓
  • C. Both protagonists are from rural areas and struggle in urban settings
  • D. Both protagonists seek redemption and eventually return the stolen money

Answer: B

Q2. Which of the following best explains why the young man stole from his benefactor?

  • A. He was inherently evil and always intended to steal
  • B. He was a professional thief targeting wealthy people
  • C. His circumstances of poverty and desperation, despite receiving kindness, drove him to commit theft ✓
  • D. He wanted to punish the owner for displaying wealth

Answer: C

Q3. How does the young man's realization that he is lost parallel the peddler's experience in the forest?

  • A. Both realize they are literally trapped in unfamiliar terrain due to their attempts to evade consequences ✓
  • B. Both discover new philosophical truths about the world
  • C. Both men are rescued by industrial workers
  • D. Both recognize they made poor career choices

Answer: A

Q4. What does this scenario suggest about Selma Lagerlöf's theme in 'The Rattrap'?

  • A. That human kindness can prevent all crime and suffering
  • B. That systemic poverty and social conditions can override individual moral intentions, trapping people in cycles of desperation ✓
  • C. That poor people are inherently criminal and cannot be trusted
  • D. That stealing is always justified when one is in desperate circumstances

Answer: B

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