As they travel, the hitchhiker is evasive about his profession, only describing himself as being in a "highly skilled trade". The tension rises when the hitchhiker bets that the narrator’s car cannot actually reach its advertised top speed of 129 mph. Egged on, the narrator accelerates to 120 mph, only to be promptly pulled over by a rude and bullying motorcycle policeman.
The central engine of the plot is the narrator’s fear of the police and the law. When a police car signals him to pull over for speeding, the narrator’s middle-class panic is palpable. He envisions court appearances, fines, and a stain on his character. The policeman is described as a looming, godlike figure: “tall and lean and grim,” with a “very cold” voice. He represents the intimidating, impersonal power of the state. The reader, along with the narrator, is led to believe the story will end in a humiliating fine. However, Dahl masterfully pivots. The hitchhiker, far from being a liability, becomes an unexpected savior. He reveals that the policeman himself was speeding, and that he has “nicked” the officer’s notebook. The source of tension—the law’s gaze—is instantly neutralized by the hitchhiker’s audacious, illegal act.
The hitchhiker has stolen the evidence that could convict the narrator. hitchhiker roald dahl
The story begins with an unnamed narrator—a wealthy writer—driving his brand-new BMW toward London. Remembering his own difficult days of hitchhiking, he stops to pick up a small, "rat-faced" man.
Once they are back on the road, the hitchhiker reveals his true profession: he is not just a pickpocket, but a "fingersmith," a master of manual dexterity. To prove it, he produces the narrator's own watch, belt, and shoelaces—and most importantly, the policeman's notebook containing the recorded evidence of their speeding. Character Analysis The Hitchhiker - Roald Dahl Fans As they travel, the hitchhiker is evasive about
First published in the July 1977 issue of The Atlantic Monthly and later featured in the collection The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More , " The Hitch-Hiker " is one of Roald Dahl's most celebrated short stories for adults. It masterfully blends suspense, dark humor, and a sharp critique of authority. Plot Summary: A High-Speed Encounter
From the moment the stranger enters the car, Dahl establishes a fascinating dynamic. The narrator is affluent, driving a luxury car; the hitchhiker is shabby, potentially a vagrant. Yet, the hitchhiker possesses an air of supreme confidence and a sharp, sneering intelligence. He critiques the narrator’s driving and questions the car’s speed, eventually goading the narrator into pushing the car to its limits. The central engine of the plot is the
The policeman represents the rigid, unyielding, and often cruel face of state authority. He cares nothing for the individuals, only for the rules. By contrast, the hitchhiker—though a criminal—is clever, skilled, and loyal to the man who gave him a ride. He uses his "villainous" skill to save the narrator from the "virtuous" law.