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Chapter 38
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
After her time in Memphis, Starling flies black to Virginia, where she visits Crawford in his home. Shortly after she arrives, she hears Crawford on the phone. He asks Starling if she gave Lecter anything he could use to loosen his handcuffs. Starling says she did not, and Crawford says as much to the person on the phone.
Crawford’s question tells Starling everything she needs to know about Lecter’s escape. At this point, Crawford has complete trust in Starling and knows she is not responsible for accidentally handing Lecter something that would help him escape. He asks the question merely as a formality.
Themes
When Crawford gets off the phone, he reveals he was speaking to Chilton. He tells Starling about Lecter’s incredible escape. Evidently, he wore part of Pembry’s face, which he removed with a pocketknife, to fool the Tennessee authorities into placing him in the ambulance without question. For the moment, Starling forces herself to put Lecter in the back of her mind. She knows he has better things to do than come after her, and she still thinks the information he gave her is valuable.
At this point, Lecter is not a threat to Crawford and Starling. He just regained his freedom, and he is not going to risk being locked up again for immediately going after FBI agents. Starling knows Buffalo Bill is a more pressing concern, so she does her best to put Lecter out of her mind. After all, time is running out for Catherine.
Themes
Crawford tells Starling that he is now on compassionate leave, although he did not have a choice in the matter. He also warns Starling that Krendler wants her expelled, though he promises to do everything he can to ensure that does not happen. However, to avoid more trouble, he orders Starling to return to class tomorrow so she does not miss any more of her education.
Crawford is on compassionate leave because his superiors dislike how he handled the Buffalo Bill case. His compassionate leave is more of a warning than anything else. Bella’s condition is irrelevant as far as they are concerned. As such, Starling has no meaningful way to continue pursuing the case; she was only on the case because Crawford wanted her there. Now that Crawford is gone, there is no room for Starling.
Themes
Before she returns to everyday life, Crawford gives Starling one last task; he wants her to go to the Smithsonian to see if anyone has made progress on Klaus’s head. As Starling speaks with Crawford, the Tennessee police find the ambulance Lecter stole at the Memphis airport. Inside are the bodies of the ambulance workers, who have become Lecter’s latest victims.
Starling’s task at the Smithsonian is seemingly her last chance to impact the Buffalo Bill case meaningfully. However, this is a low point for her character in the novel. Her superiors are taking her off the case of a lifetime, and Lecter is already wreaking havoc.
Themes
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