1. Self Discovery
1.1. Clarice's childhood
1.1.1. "What's your worst memory of childhood"-Lector "The death of my father...A neighbor came, an older woman, a single lady, and she recited the end of "Thanatopsis" to him. I guess that was all she knew to say."- Clarice
1.1.2. "Starling came from people who do not ask for favors or press for friendship..."
2. Proving oneself
2.1. Clarice wants to impress her boss, prove herself in the FBI.
3. Gender
3.1. Objectification
3.1.1. Buffalo Bill speaks of Catherine as if she were an object: “It rubs the lotion on its skin. It does this whenever it is told. ”
3.1.2. "Crawford's very clever-- isn't he?-- Using you on Lector" "Hot do you mean Dr. Chilton?" "A young woman to 'turn him on,'..." (11)
3.2. Terror/ Vulgarity
3.2.1. Bill wants "A vest with t*** on it"(152)
3.2.2. "I can smell your c***" (14)
3.3. Independence/ Strong women
3.3.1. Clarice
3.3.1.1. "Starling felt pretty good. She knew Crawford was just giving her an exhausted mouse to bat around for practice. But he wanted to teach her. He wanted her to do well. For Starling, that beat courtesy every time."
3.3.1.2. "It was tempting to get into behavioral science in any capacity she could, but she knew what happens to women if she's ever pegged as a secretary- it sticks until the end of time." (4)
3.3.1.3. ""Well f*** off Chilton, "I graduated from the university of Virginia with honors, Doctor. It's not a charm school." (11)
3.3.2. Senator Martin
3.3.3. Catherine Martin
3.3.3.1. "Mister... my family will pay cash. Whatever ransom you're askin' for, they pay it."
4. Evil
4.1. Hannibal Lector
4.1.1. Represents a type of devil without emotion
4.1.1.1. "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti"
4.1.1.2. Clarice: "He kills women... " Hannibal Lecter: "No. That is incidental. What is the first and principal thing he does? What needs does he serve by killing?"
4.1.1.3. "Is it true what they're sayin', he's some kinda vampire?" Clarice: "They don't have a name for what he is."
4.1.1.4. "Frankly, I got sick and tired of his whining. Best thing for him, really. Therapy wasn't going anywhere. I expect most psychiatrists have a patient or two they'd like to refer to me."(54)
4.1.1.5. "If Lector talks to you at all, he'll just be trying to find out about you. It's the kind of curiosity that makes a snake look in a bird's nest" (6)
4.1.2. Lector's extensive knowledge and ability to understand Clarice