The reader’s sympathy is with the peddler right from the beginning of the story. Why is this so? Is the sympathy justified?

From the beginning, the rattrap seller is shown as a person who is surrounded by poor circumstances and not of an evil character. The peddler had to choose beggary and stealing because his business is not profitable enough to make both ends meet. His condition of poverty does not allow him to be fully a good person. Moreover, we find that he lacks having someone in his life that makes him move on the right path he is lonely and helpless. The sympathy is justified because, in the end, we find out that the peddler is capable of appreciating because he showed his kind part. When he is treated with respect, he reciprocates the same in the best way he can. This shows that he has a quality of a good person.