Roald Dahl's short story "The Hitchhiker" contains only three characters: the narrator (who, like Dahl himself, is a successful writer), the hitchhiker, and the policeman. The narrator picks up the hitchhiker in his new car and becomes intrigued by him, particularly by his mysterious profession. Initially, however, the narrator has a rather negative view of the hitchhiker. With his thin face, shifty eyes, and slightly pointed ears, he looks like a rat.

The policeman initially concentrates his attention on the narrator, since it is he, the driver of the car, who is to be charged with speeding. When he does notice the hitchhiker, however, he views him with suspicion and dislike. He says that he does not like the hitchhiker's face and believes that he might well have a criminal record.

As the drive continues, the narrator learns more about the hitchhiker, his unusual profession as a "fingersmith," and his code of ethics. He takes an interest in the man and is impressed by his skills. The most important difference between the narrator's perception and the policeman's is that the former changes while the policeman's stays the same. Their two perceptions are very similar when they first see the hitchhiker, but the narrator's view changes, both because he spends more time with the man and because he is less prejudiced.