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The story is, indeed, both entertaining and philosophical. The fast-paced narrative in the third person, generous use of dialogue by the author and different characters belonging to different mindsets and locations, make the story quite entertaining. There is also an element of suspense that the author manages to keep up to the end. There is also an underlying touch of irony. There is also an element of philosophy in the story.
The Peddler’s theory of the world being a rattrap is true. The world offers us so many temptations that we are sure to fall into its trap some day. While some people fall into this trap never to come out of it again, the fortunate ones like the Peddler manage to break free from the circle of temptations with the help of kind and compassionate people like Edla, and discover their latent goodness.