What was the name of the rat that almost ruined Buratino's young life? - briefly
The rat that nearly destroyed Buratino’s early life was named Karabas Barabas.
What was the name of the rat that almost ruined Buratino's young life? - in detail
The rat who threatened Buratino’s early existence is known as Krat.
Krat appears early in the story as a sly, wiry creature living in the puppet theater’s cellar. His fur is patchy and his eyes are constantly narrowed, giving him a perpetual look of suspicion. He speaks in a hushed, conspiratorial tone, often offering “help” that masks ulterior motives.
Key actions that endangered the young wooden boy:
- Deception about the golden key – Krat tells Buratino that the key he found is worthless, hoping the boy will abandon it and lose the means to escape the theater’s control.
- Attempted theft – While Buratino sleeps, Krat tries to steal the key, slipping a duplicate that dissolves in water, thereby creating a crisis when the original is misplaced.
- Alliance with Karabas Barabas – Krat negotiates with the puppet master, promising information about Buratino’s whereabouts in exchange for a share of the theater’s profits, effectively plotting to hand the boy over.
Krat’s influence is curtailed when Buratino, aided by his friends, discovers the rat’s duplicity. The wooden boy outsmarts Krat by swapping the false key with a genuine one hidden inside a pine cone, forcing Krat to retreat and diminishing his power within the theater.
Through these episodes, Krat serves as the primary antagonist who nearly derailed Buratino’s journey, embodying deceit and greed in the narrative.