Analitical Essay On "The Three Strangers"

626 Words3 Pages
In “The Three Strangers”, Thomas Hardy allows the reader to view human affairs not as they appear to human participants but from a great distance of time and space through use of characterization, irony, and external conflict. The plot of the short story uses realism during the early 1800’s in Southwest England. Through indirect characterization Thomas Hardy reveals information about the characters and their personality through their thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to them, including what they think and say about him. There is a sharp division of town and country from the rural point of view. The cottage is secluded from the town. The isolation is further emphasized by weather and time of day. The story begins with a party by Shepherd Fennel and his wife Mrs. Fennel to celebrate the Christening of their second daughter. The story portrays the Shepherd and his wife to be respectable citizens. A stranger appeared and claimed to be heading home when he got trapped in the rain. He asked to dry off for awhile and wait the rain out. He appeared to be an older man with cheap clothing, and a dark voice. It is easy to see that the Shepherd and his wife and very nice people, because they did not hesitate to let the stranger in once. A second stranger entered into the cottage. He claimed to be on a business trip when he got caught in the rain. A third stranger knocked on the door, but after seeing the first stranger left quickly. When the third stranger runs away, it is clear to see that something undercover is going on. The reader can also infer that the third stranger is nervous about seeing someone. The Characters use explanation of the settings and emotions, rather than having the characters speak right away and throughout the scenes. Hardy also uses irony to see human affairs not as they appear to human
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