Unit 1 DQ6. 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?
In “The Silence of the Lambs,” Hannibal Lecter defines rudeness as a lack of manners and civility. He
believes that people who are rude to others deserve to be punished, and he uses this belief to justify his
murders. Lecter likes to appear sophisticated, and his manner of speech and choice of words reflect a
certain finesse about him. When he does get “rude” to other people, it comes out as if he is taunting
them to be rude back to him. He is teasing them to stoop to his level so that he can justify killing them.
Buffalo Bill, the antagonist in the film, is a character who kidnaps and murders women. While he is not
explicitly portrayed as rude, his actions are certainly violent and disturbing. It is up to the viewer to
decide whether his behavior is rude, but it is clear that he is a dangerous individual who poses a threat
to society.
