A prevailing theme of “The Three Strangers” is first alluded to in the title. Identity plays a vital role in the story and means something different in the lives of the three strangers: the first stranger hides his identity, the second stranger makes a riddle of his, and the third has his identity mistaken.

First and foremost, the first stranger’s carefulness in not revealing his identity saves him from hanging. The story ends with the first stranger being discovered as the escaped prisoner. Thanks to the second stranger, the guests are aware that Timothy Summers is the name of the man meant to be hanged for sheep stealing. Still, the first stranger is not identified in this way until it is too late for him to be apprehended.

While the first stranger must hide his identity, the second stranger makes a riddle out of his, making up a song on the spot to reveal his occupation. As it turns out, his identity preceded him, as the partygoers knew an executioner was coming to town to hang the sheep stealer. The third stranger’s identity is mistaken, for he is first thought to be the sheep stealer himself and is chased down.

There is an element of irony to the identities in this story. Some of the minor characters, guests of the shepherds, are given full names—like ​​Elijah New and Oliver Giles—despite only being mentioned once or twice. Their names aren’t meant to be remembered. Yet, they are given this formal title of identification to emphasize the absence of the strangers’ names. The concept of identity and what it entails is challenged because the titular characters remain nameless for the whole story. The strangers are not named, yet they are remembered through their story fifty years later, suggesting that an identity can exist apart from a name.

Because Thomas Hardy witnessed public hangings himself, it is no surprise that this form of punishment influences his stories; the first stranger in this story is sentenced to hang for the theft of a sheep. However, Hardy complicates the sentence by inspiring sympathy for the thief: the first stranger stole a sheep so his family would not starve.

Though a short piece of fiction, Hardy challenges readers to decide if there is a point where the common people should play a part in punishing criminals. The narrator relates,

The intended punishment was cruelly disproportionate to the transgression, and the sympathy of a great many country folk in that district was strongly on the side of the fugitive . . . So that it may be questioned if all those who ostensibly made themselves so busy in exploring woods and fields and lanes were quite so thorough when it came to the private examination of their own lofts and outhouses.

In saying this, Hardy implies that justice dealt with by the common people should sometimes trump justice dealt with by the authorities. In this case, the people recognize that death is not a fair sentence for a man who stole a sheep for his starving family, so they act accordingly, letting him escape.

The kindness and hospitality shown by the Fennels are not one of the foremost themes in the story. Still, it is prevalent enough to be worthy of noting.

Although Mrs. Fennel is frugal with her food and drink, the guests and strangers are welcomed without any fuss. A sense of camaraderie is palpable within the party of Higher Crowstairs, and there is a naturally flowing connection between all the humans gathered together.

Even when the first two strangers arrive uninvited, they are accepted into the fun and engaged in conversation. Whether the Fennels’ kindness and generosity result from excitement for their daughter’s christening or innate characteristics possessed by the family, this theme illustrates how treating others with decency and respect is an important step in creating happy, connected relationships—even among strangers.