We’ll talk, of course, about Hannibal Lecter and the asylum he inhabits, but how would you characterize the world outside of the asylum in 1986 as Harris portrays it? Name and describe one or two of the most salient features (emotional, physical, or cultural) that seem to define life in this fictional world. Where’s the passage where this feature came into view?
2 thoughts on “Silence of the Lambs 1”
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I agree with Alexander; The world is definitely defined by boundaries between men and women. This is made extremely evident with a lead female protagonist in a male-centric world. Clarice Starling has an emerging career as an FBI agent and for this reason, her world also surrounds around ideas of respect and reputation. Starling is constantly trying to prove herself as a competent adult with Crawford, Lector, and any figure with authority (teachers, the reporters, etc). I think the scene in the Potter Funeral house, where Crawford excludes Starling by asking to speak to the sheriff in private conveys those ideas of gender and respect. Crawford later apologizes and states it was tactical move, but Starling knows that this behaviour will inform the behaviour the other men. Starling is a capable agent, however she is often used or manipulated by authority figures ( like Crawford, Chilton, and Lector) to further their positions or agendas. However, she must participate in their games to further her career and build a reputation.
I would describe Harris’s portrayal of the world outside the asylum as fairly sexist. It is definitely a much more transformative time, in the sense that women are now going to could academic institutions, and building careers for themselves, instead of staying home to be housewives. This of course is portrayed through Clarice’s goal of becoming an FBI agent. This sexism, however, is clearly visible on page 11 of the text when Dr. Chilton insinuates that Crawford only sent Clarice to the asylum to sexually turn him on, in exchange for information.