The Three Strangers: Analysis
Thomas Hardy handles his mystery story “The Three Strangers” in a very clever and unique way which contrasts to many conventional mystery stories.
Thomas Hardy doesn’t start it like many mystery stories in that the opening scene is a scene of normality. A lot of mystery stories begin with quite a sinister tone for example eeriness. However Hardy starts this with quite the opposite tone with a Sheppard’s house full of the locals enjoying a hearty party celebrating the Sheppard’s son’s Christening. Hardy portrays a scene with no tensions or conflict, just everyone enjoying themselves. There is even a little comedy involved with the Sheppard’s wife trying to decide whether the party should focus more on drink, food, or dancing.
What happens next is the knocking on the door by the first stranger. It is from here on that the relaxed and easy feeling of the party begins to fade. But this first stranger causes no great alarm at all as in those days it was common for weary travelers trekking across the countryside to ask for hospitality or shelter, especially in these adverse weather conditions. However although this action seems normal enough, it is in this section of the plot that Hardy subtly puts forward the first mysterious action. As the first stranger nears the house he for some reason stops besides the pig’s sty before deciding to enter the house. This is unusual because why would someone want to shelter under the roof of a pig sty first before entering the better shelter and warmth of the house. He also looks about himself to make sure there is no one else there, another mystery. When he does enter the house initially he is dubious but once he has surveyed his surroundings and invited to drink he completely relaxes, ‘His manner, which before entering, had been so dubious, was now altogether that of a careless and candid man’. Hardy gives this first stranger a mysterious edge as he gives very vague answers to each question the party goers give.