Before answering this unit’s questions, you should view the film The Silence of the Lambs (1991) directed by Jonathan Demme. The film pits two very different serial killers against one another, with an FBI agent caught in the middle of their struggles for justice.
Keep in mind, as you view the film, a few of the questions posted below.
Why does the film utilize Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as its protagonist or hero? Does the film present gender here as an opportunity for viewers to see Hannibal Lecter as a savior character? How would the film have differed in form and content if the FBI protagonist was male? Show evidence from the film to support your claims.
The film has a certain argument about “rudeness” as a reason for murder. How does Hannibal Lecter define rudeness–and why does it help justify his murders to a popular culture audience that might be unwilling to analyze this concept further? In the context of the film, is Buffalo Bill a rude character? Why or why not?
