Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Silence of the Lambs, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Sexism and Law Enforcement
The Nature of Evil
Class and Shame
Manipulation
Summary
Analysis
After the orderlies finish inspecting Lecter’s cell, Barney rolls him back inside, his restraints still in place. Chilton sits on Lecter’s bed and tells him that tonight is the first time he has heard Lecter’s voice in many years. Chilton reveals that he bugged the desk Starling was sitting at and overheard their conversation. Chilton is annoyed that Starling lied to him about the nature of her investigation, and he wants to get back at her.
Chilton tells Lecter that the deal Starling mentioned is completely fake. He knows this because he has spent the past few hours on the phone with Senator Martin concocting a real deal. Additionally, Chilton tells Lecter that Starling and Crawford already knew Klaus was one of Buffalo Bill’s victims and implies that they have been several steps ahead of Lecter all along. Chilton mocks Lecter and warns him that he will make his life a living hell if he does not cooperate.
Unlike how Starling deals with Lecter, Chilton immediately puts his cards on the table. He is not interested in subtlety or playing games. Chilton tells Lecter exactly what he wants and how he expects him to behave. Chilton does not feel he has to play games with Lecter because he thinks he has complete control over his future. However, with someone like Lecter, this is a dangerous approach.
Themes
Then, Chilton reveals the deal he made with Senator Martin. If the FBI finds Catherine alive, Chilton will get exclusive access to her, which will allow him to publish a professional account of her experience. Additionally, anything Lecter says publicly must be filtered through Chilton first. However, Chilton does promise Lecter a deal of his own, similar to what Starling promised him. For that deal to go through, Lecter must accompany Chilton to Tennessee immediately. Lecter agrees to the deal because he knows whoever guards him in Tennessee will be untrained. He tells Chilton that Buffalo Bill’s real name is Billy. However, he refuses to say more until he speaks with Senator Martin in person.
Chilton asked Senator Martin for the same thing Lecter wants: exclusive access to Catherine. However, Lecter no longer cares about Catherine because he has his eyes on a different prize. His internal acknowledgment of the untrained Tennessee guards suggests that he plans to escape during his travels with Chilton. It is the opportunity Lecter has been waiting for, possibly since the first time Starling visited him. Starling’s deal offered the illusion of freedom; however, Chilton’s deal offers the possibility of the real thing, whether he knows it or not.
Themes
