Crossing Boundaries of Entertainment in “The Knife Thrower” by Steve Millhauser
Steve Millhauser’s “The Knife Thrower” is a story about the dangers of overpassing the
limits to entertain individuals. Bearing the mark of the master, the dying of thirst of blood, and
blaming Hensch for amoral acts of the story makes an important commentary on passing the
limitation of the entertainment. Ultimately, “The Knife Thrower” suggests the role of art and
entertainment in people lives and how far individuals will go to entertain themselves.
1. The eagerness of the young people represents the sense of belonging nowhere to the
audience; therefore, they will bear the mark of the master to be special. After a long retirement
time Hensch returns to the town for a new show, the narrator states, “The idea of the artful
wound, the mark of blood that was the mark of the master […] there were many young women
especially, who longed to be wounded by the master and to bear his scar proudly” (Millhauser 4).
