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
In an ambulance, an EMT tries to make sense of his patient’s condition. The EMT still thinks that his patient is Pembry and assumes the man is close to death. When he is not looking, Lecter wiggles out of his restraints. Then, he uses a gun to bludgeon the EMT. Afterward, he takes control of the ambulance and makes his way to the Memphis International Airport.
While Sergeant Tate’s team is busy searching for Lecter in the Memphis courthouse, Lecter completes his plan, and regains his freedom. Starling and Crawford’s worst fears have come to pass, as Lecter has outsmarted everyone and a vicious serial killer is back roaming the world.
Themes
