Fate, Redemption, and Human Agency in Selma Lagerlof’s The Rattrap: An Examination Through the Lens of Indian Philosophy

Abstract

The paper explores the themes of fate, redemption, and human agency in Selma Lagerlof’s short story The Rattrap, through the framework of Indian philosophical concepts, particularly those from Hinduism and Buddhism. It draws parallels between the narrative structure and motifs of the story and core elements of both Hindu and Buddhist thought and how the story resonates with the moral and philosophical values of both traditions.