Underneath the thriller plot, Dahl critiques class. The narrator looks down on the hitchhiker for being poor. The policeman abuses his authority. The "criminal" turns out to be the most skilled, honest (about his dishonesty), and likable character in the story.
Dahl plays with perspective beautifully. The narrator is wealthy, proud, and law-abiding. He thinks he is the hero. By contrast, the hitchhiker is poor, scruffy, and a criminal. Yet, by the end of the story, the reader cheers for the criminal and rolls their eyes at the pompous narrator. Dahl inverts morality. the hitchhiker by roald dahl pdf
If you are a teacher who found this article via a search for "The Hitchhiker by Roald Dahl pdf" to print for a class, consider these lesson plan ideas: Underneath the thriller plot, Dahl critiques class
Note to teachers: Because this story is under copyright, you cannot legally distribute a photocopied PDF to an entire class unless your school has purchased a class set or a license through a service like Scribd or a literary anthology. Note to teachers: Because this story is under
When reading "The Hitchhiker," it's beneficial to consider the context of Roald Dahl's life and works. His experiences as a pilot, his travels, and his observations of human behavior all significantly influenced his writing. "The Hitchhiker" reflects Dahl's fascination with the peculiarities of life and human interactions.