# Identity and Disguise in The Thirty-Nine Steps

> Theme guide for The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan.

Hannay constantly adopts false identities—as a milkman, a roadman, a political candidate, and a chauffeur—to evade capture and infiltrate enemy plans, emphasizing the theme of shifting identity for survival.

## Where it surfaces

- [The Milkman Sets Out on His Travels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/ii-the-milkman-sets-out-on-his-travels): Hannay adopts a milkman's disguise and later plans to pass as a Scotsman, highlighting themes of hidden identity.
- [The Adventure of the Literary Innkeeper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/iii-the-adventure-of-the-literary-innkeeper): Hannay adopts the appearance of a hill farmer to blend in with other passengers.
- [The Adventure of the Spectacled Roadman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/v-the-adventure-of-the-spectacled-roadman): Hannay adopts the persona of a hungover roadman, complete with borrowed spectacles, hat, and pipe, to evade his enemies.
- [VI: The Adventure of the Bald Archaeologist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/vi-the-adventure-of-the-bald-archaeologist): Hannay adopts the alias 'Ainslie' and his appearance has changed from his London photographs, allowing him to pass as a tramp.
- [The Dry-Fly Fisherman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/vii-the-dry-fly-fisherman): Hannay adopts multiple disguises (shepherd, farm-laborer) and uses the alias 'Twisdon' to evade detection.
- [The Coming of the Black Stone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/viii-the-coming-of-the-black-stone): The Black Stone agent impersonates Lord Alloa, and Hannay's recognition of the impostor is a key plot point.
- [X: Various Parties Converging on the Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/x-various-parties-converging-on-the-sea): Hannay reflects on Peter Pienaar's maxims about playing a part and blending into the landscape, as the villains appear as ordinary middle-class citizens.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/themes/identity_and_disguise
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/themes