The Hitchhiker

Fletcher uses foreshadowing prolifically to create the suspenseful atmosphere of “The Hitchhiker.”

The play begins with Adams alluding to unsettling events which have occurred over the past six days. He declares that this “may be [...] the last night I ever see the stars” (94). The story then works backward to fill in the details of these events. Although Adams is happy and healthy when he leaves on his road trip, listeners know to anticipate something going terribly wrong, so a constant feeling of tension looms over the story even before the introduction of the hitchhiker. As Adams leaves his mother’s house, she warns him not to pick up any hitchhikers, directly foreshadowing his accident on the Brooklyn Bridge and the events that follow his death.

Foreshadowing is not confined to the play’s dialogue. Swells of eerie music precede key moments in the story, creating an uncomfortable and anxious feeling. As the hitchhiker appears more and more frequently, the music increases in tempo and intensity, signaling the buildup to the play’s dramatic climax. By continually stoking feelings of unease and apprehension in the listener, Fletcher ensures that the play’s final twist lands with a punch.