Due to her size, she believed that losing weight would make her more attractive, just as the pop-stars on her wall were.Įven when Gumb, Bill’s real name, captured her, and left her to starve in his pit, she still sent him love notes believing he loved her back. His first victim, after killing his grandparents, Frederica Bimmel also wanted to undergo her own transformation. This is further expanded on by his interest in their own metamorphosis from larva to moth. He also places a death’s head moth into a few of the victim’s throats. In this case, becoming a woman, in the sense of wearing a female body made from human skin – but more about that later. Much like The Tooth Fairy in Red Dragon, Buffalo Bill is looking to transcend himself into something new. ThemesĪ significant theme is transformation. Heidnik, a man who kidnapped, tortured and raped six women, killing two. Dr Lecter suggests that the Lambs in her head will never be silent – a recurrent nightmare hence the title.īuffalo Bill is based partly on Ed Gein, who created a top out of human skin, and Ted Bundy, who faked injury or a need for help to lure his victims over before subduing them. In her escape, she could hear the lambs going to slaughter. One in which she ran away with her horse before it could be put to sleep. The title The Silence of the Lambs is based on a nightmare that Clarice agonises over. It’s these elements of greenness (is that the right term?) that make her so endearing, and vulnerable. Still, in police academy (not that one) she’s far from the finished product.

Hot on Bill’s case is cop-in-training Clarice Sterling.

Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs Tweet

Thomas harris silence of the lambs