The social purpose of the short story “The Handler” written by Damon Knight shows how one’s appearance influences the society and the person himself/herself. This story is about a man named Pete, who comes in a party and delights everyone. He is described as a big man who is a charming, confident and a charismatic person. With the looks of a successful American figure, the crowd treated him like a celebrity and idolizes him. Pete then introduces his handler, Harry, and a very small man, stoop-shouldered and round-backed in a sweaty brown singlet and short appeared. The atmosphere constantly changed, the crowd starts to ignore him and leave the room. But when the little man went back to the inside of Pete everything went back to normal.
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Pete has the good looks and charisma, giving him self-confidence. He is the center of attention at the party. On the other hand, henry doesn’t have the looks and had been badly judge. “The little man got down, wetting his lips nervously. Hello, Harry, a few people said ‘hello’ harry called, waving his hand. He was about forty, with a big nose and big soft brown eyes. His voice was cracked and uncertain. ‘Well, we sure put a big show, didn’t we?”(47). He was so nervous, but still tried to make conversation. Sadly, he was ignored and told to go back inside. His confidence drops and followed the order. Lastly, how the society perceive a person. The crowd believed that the person who entertains them is almost a perfect man, a guy who has a great personality and physical appearance. Henry then revealed his true self, which is the handler. However, the people ignored him and denied the fact that Pete and harry is just a one person. They tried to leave when harry appeared but immediately went back when Pete was back. They couldn’t face the reality and chose to believe what they want to perceive.” Most of our society judges a person by its appearance and the story “The Handler” shows the effect of it. How people were treated differently, how it affects our confidents and how the society runs away from
Pete has the good looks and charisma, giving him self-confidence. He is the center of attention at the party. On the other hand, henry doesn’t have the looks and had been badly judge. “The little man got down, wetting his lips nervously. Hello, Harry, a few people said ‘hello’ harry called, waving his hand. He was about forty, with a big nose and big soft brown eyes. His voice was cracked and uncertain. ‘Well, we sure put a big show, didn’t we?”(47). He was so nervous, but still tried to make conversation. Sadly, he was ignored and told to go back inside. His confidence drops and followed the order. Lastly, how the society perceive a person. The crowd believed that the person who entertains them is almost a perfect man, a guy who has a great personality and physical appearance. Henry then revealed his true self, which is the handler. However, the people ignored him and denied the fact that Pete and harry is just a one person. They tried to leave when harry appeared but immediately went back when Pete was back. They couldn’t face the reality and chose to believe what they want to perceive.” Most of our society judges a person by its appearance and the story “The Handler” shows the effect of it. How people were treated differently, how it affects our confidents and how the society runs away from