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Chapter 51
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 enters the Bimmel household and begins searching Fredrica’s bedroom. She immediately notices that everything about Fredrica matches the profile of Buffalo Bill’s other victims. She is a plain-looking, heavy-set woman, just like the others. Scattered throughout Fredrica’s room, Starling sees books of dieting and exercise. She feels pity for Fredrica and thinks that Buffalo Bill likely used her self-image to take advantage of her.
Part of the reason Buffalo Bill disgusts Starling so much is because he preys on the insecurities of innocent women. In this way, he is exactly like Lecter, though Lecter is more willing to victimize men as well. Starling knows what it is like to seek the approval of men, and she sympathizes with Fredrica in this respect.
Themes
Starling also notices that the sizes of Frederica’s clothes are the same as Catherine’s. She wonders whether Buffalo Bill stalks women in clothing stores, waiting to see what size clothing they go for. As she searches through Frederica’s room, Starling cannot help but think about the body she saw in West Virginia. Suddenly, she has a realization. The triangular patches that Buffalo Bill takes from his victims’ backs are what he uses to create his sewing patterns. Immediately, she leaves the Bimmel residence to call Crawford. However, before she can reach him, she gets a call from Burroughs.
As it turns out, Starling’s trip to Frederica’s room was worthwhile. As she suspected, she noticed something that men would overlook because they are less likely to have knowledge of sewing patterns. Little does she know, Crawford’s revelation came through at approximately the same time hers did, meaning he already solved the case.
Themes
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