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
Chilton and his men prepare Lecter to travel to Tennessee. Barney travels with Lecter in an ambulance, which Chilton uses to transport Lecter to a runway. The entire time, Lecter is fully restrained. When they arrive at the runway, Lecter thanks Barney for being kind to him over the years. Additionally, he asks him to say goodbye to Sammie on his behalf. Barney bids Lecter farewell and promises to do as he asks.
Lecter’s treatment of Barney is part of the general decorum he exhibits with people he likes. As Harris illustrated earlier in the novel, Lecter cares about manners, at least superficially, and he appreciates how Barney treated him over the years. Notably, his talk with Barney sounds like he is saying goodbye, which hints to Barney that he plans to escape.
Themes
As soon as he is away from Lecter, Barney finds Chilton and warns him to make sure local law enforcement in Tennessee knows what they are doing. Several times, he asks Chilton to let him go along with Lecter to ensure everything is safe. However, Chilton repeatedly rejects Barney’s request and tells him to go home. Reluctantly, Barney does as Chilton asks, as Lecter makes his way to Tennessee.
Barney picks up on the hidden meeting in Lecter’s goodbye, which is why he runs immediately to Chilton. Barney knows what Lecter is capable of because he has observed him for so many years, and he thinks Chilton is underestimating Lecter. However, Chilton’s ego won’t allow him to consider that possibility.
Themes
