Millhauser uses color as a manifestation of the sides that the community is battling between and to demonstrate the rite of passage that the initiates must go through.

The story is built around the white of purity, the black of the master and the initiated, and the red of the blood that is the process and effect of transgression. Likewise darkness and light are used as examples of the differences between what the community knowingly becomes involved with, what they do not know or expect, and what they wish to ignore in the service of their own excitement.

Millhauser also focuses on one night and one performance by Hensch to tighten the focus of the story. This, in addition to his choice of narrative voice, emphasizes the community and the emotions and difficulties it experiences as a result of Hensch's performance.