Tom’s experience is both supernatural and surreal. Although the old man’s transformation is frightening, he also functions as wish-fulfillment for Tom, who wants a way to get rid of the suitor and have the widow all to himself. Later in the novel, the bagman will tell another story about Tom, which is similarly surreal where Tom once again comes out on top regarding the woman he is trying to impress. When taken together, these stories give the impression of a man who is conjuring supernatural experiences to make it appear he has more success with women than he actually does.