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Chapter 49
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 travels to Ohio and drives to the former house of Fredrica Bimmel, Buffalo Bill’s first victim. There, she meets Gustav Bimmel, Fredrica’s father, who says he will answer any questions she has for him. Starling asks Gustav about the night Fredrica disappeared. He tells her that Fredrica went to Columbus for an interview and never came back. He also gives Starling access to Fredrica’s former room.
At this point, Starling is merely retreading old ground. Authorities have interviewed Gustav Bimmel before and searched Fredrica’s room. However, as Starling pointed out to Crawford, perhaps a woman can bring a new perspective to the situation.
Themes
