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
Starling returns to Washington, where Ardelia and Crawford wait for her. When she lands, Ardelia places a whisky in her hands. On the way back to Quantico, Starling learns that Krendler is no longer investigating her. As such, Starling is not in danger of being kicked out of the FBI. Additionally, her instructors agreed to push her exams so she will have time to study for them. At Quantico, Ardelia does her best to look after Starling. She gets up in the middle of the night and finds that Starling has fallen asleep in the laundry room.
Starling’s work on the Buffalo Bill case means that Krendler won’t bother her. After all, it would look horrible if he tried to investigate the hero of the case. Now, Starling must return to life as it was before the Buffalo Bill case. Ardelia and Crawford both seem eager to do everything they can to ensure Starling is on track for graduation.
Themes
