The Handler

Apparently Knight is known for the term "second-order idiot-plot," a story set in a society that only functions because everyone or almost everyone in it is an idiot (Wikipedia).
I laughed when I read this during my research because the society in which "The Handler" is set is clearly full of idiots. Apparently, Pete was everyone's favourite person and was adored by all. And by some weird twist in the plot it is revealed that Pete is just some large body that is controlled by a Handler named Harry. So, I hope that I am not wrong in assuming that Harry actually climbs into Pete's body and controls him. Once the crowd recognizes this and they are no longer looking at the tall handsome Pete but instead are looking at the short bald big nosed Harry, the crowd turns on him, having their own private mini conversations. This ignorance and idiotic behavior continues until Harry climbs back into Pete's body, and once this transition has occurred the crowd begins to party again, cheering on Pete.
This really speaks to me about exterior appearance and the effect that is has on society. We are in such a superficial time that people do judge others and show different levels of respect to others depending on their looks. Television, radios, magazines and so on, have a generic way for one to look, and if they do no fit into those standards then they are often treated much like Harry. When Harry is Pete (the generic standard for an ideal patriarchal male) he is very accepted, but when he shows his true self as "The Handler" the respect that they have for him disappears. This story, thus reinforces the sad truth that outer appearance does in fact matter to such a large extent.