General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn re: Hannibal Lecter
In the pantheon of fictional sociopaths, Thomas Harris achieved the pinnacle of same with his remarkable character of Lecter. Gifted beyond comprehension, educated and well-read in classical and modern literature, history, and current events, medically trained, aware of the vagaries and distinctions between classes and castes, and horrifyingly charismatic, he is the ultimate formidable villain .
I am virtually certain that Trump never read the series of books, but he probably saw at least one of the films, and remarked to himself, and probably anyone else who would listen, that the persona of Lecter, the gestalt, would be the highest achievement of any individual. For Trump, Lecter is equivalent in his sphere of Jesus or Gandhi in a normal persons mind.
One of the aspects of the series is that Lecter was in fact apprehended, stood trial, and was sentenced to a psychiatric institution from which he managed to brilliantly engineer an escape and continue his behaviors elsewhere, defeating in the most horrifying manners all who came to destroy him. He has been stated by many to be the most villainous individual in cinematic history.
This entire oeuvre appeals to Trump who believes that as a stable genius on trial for a crime he knows he committed and for his personal knowledge of the existence of crimes and deeds of which the general public knows nothing, he is capable of equaling the notoriety of this psychopath and has drawn many parallels between himself and Lecter. The difference between them of course is that Lecter was a character created to possess an extraordinary intellect whereas Trump simply believes that he is incredibly brilliant, manipulative, and shrewd, the truth being quite to the contrary.
Finally, Trumps quotation the late, great, Hannibal Lecter implies that the character exists as a real individual within Trumps maladaptive psyche. And you know what they say: neurotics build glass houses and psychotics live in them.
Turbineguy
(37,471 posts)Lecter did not have the power to kill millions.
Arthur_Frain
(1,873 posts)But I dont remember Lecter ever died? Didnt he slip away like an eel always at the very end because hes too smart for everyone?
So that would make Late Hannibal Lector yet another inaccuracy, unless Im wrong, which at least I admit as a possibility. The beauty of a fictional character is they do live on forever in our heads. Or at least in tfgs.
PCIntern
(25,722 posts)I hesitated to include that because there have been so many iterations of the character that I could have easily missed his end.
Arthur_Frain
(1,873 posts)But Harris was pro enough to know which side his bread was buttered on even before Hopkins made the role iconic, and always left him available for a curtain call. Smart author.
Ponietz
(3,102 posts)but wasnt a cannibal since the Victorian age wouldnt permit it. Batman villains also resurrect ad infinitum.
PCIntern
(25,722 posts)Young Sherlock Holmes after the end during the titles.
Aviation Pro
(12,291 posts)The wise Barney, prompted by Lecter happened to be touring Vermeer's at the same time and the latter encountered the former at an opera while visiting the country's art museums.
Barney was wise because he beat a hasty retreat after Hannibal spotted him.
MorbidButterflyTat
(1,918 posts)Years ago, I heard a rumor on an internet message board that Thomas Harris sold the rights to his characters before Jonathan Demme made "Silence of the Lambs," into a multiple Oscar winning dynamo. He (supposedly) had first crack at subsequent books and (supposedly) deliberately ruined the story. I tend to believe it, because the subsequent books stunk.
In "Hannibal," Lecter drugged Clarice and kept her drugged, even bringing her a skull and claiming it was her beloved deceased father's. He had it "talk" to her. Mason Verger was a pedophile who recorded orphan children brought to his mansion being made to cry and "collected" their tears; he had a body builder sister who ended up in the shower with Barney in another gross scene; the whole thing was just ICK.
Yes, Lecter kept Clarice drugged, they became "lovers," and he took her to the opera in Europe or whatever. The garbage that was "Hannibal" is why Jodie Foster passed on doing the movie. So did Jonathan Demme. Julianne Moore tried too hard IMO, and in no way was Clarice.
"Silence of the Lambs," was awesome, both the book and the movie; the movie "Red Dragon" was okay, although "Manhunter," based on "Red Dragon," with William Peterson was far better, but was made before "SOTL," and doomed to irrelevancy with a lame Lecter, unfortunately. The way Peterson's Will Graham slammed the slimy tabloid jerk onto the hood of a car was so much better than Edward Norton's wimpy lame push against Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Thus ends my lengthy lecture.
sop
(10,393 posts)That would be the only reason I'd watch the Republican convention.
TSExile
(2,653 posts)At this point, I would settle for a muzzle and a straitjacket.
Chainfire
(17,757 posts)Glorfindel
(9,756 posts)Cuthbert Allgood
(5,019 posts)In the book, Clarice is shocked how the lambs make no noise during slaughter. The horses(?) wake her up because they are screaming at the slaughter, but the lambs do nothing. Much like most of the victims.
Glorfindel
(9,756 posts)After all, it's "The Silence of the Lambs," isn't it?
MiHale
(9,843 posts)Zambero
(8,985 posts)hay rick
(7,708 posts)niyad
(114,312 posts)neither read the book (s?), nor seen the movie, I thought he was off on one of his incoherent, pointless mutterings. Your explanation makes it even more disturbing.
nuxvomica
(12,504 posts)Neurotics build castles in the air.
Psychotics live in them.
Psychiatrists collect the rent.
And I don't recall Lecter dying in any of the films, so the "late, great" statement doesn't make sense. But quibbling about that detail is like arguing whether the angels that dance on the head of a pin have dimples. TFG may consider him a role-model (yeesh!) but from what I know about the Lecter character, I don't think he would suffer TFG's boorish presence for very long.
PCIntern
(25,722 posts)and a nice Chianti! Hisssssssss.
et tu
(1,040 posts)the quip, replace children with d45-
answer: boiled of course [or second course, or whatever] lol
Uncle Joe
(58,695 posts)Last edited Sun May 12, 2024, 04:46 PM - Edit history (1)
The real life character that Hannibal Lecter could most be compared to would be Jeffrey Dahmer and his victims were primarily black.
*rump is one sick, evil piece of excrement.
Thanks for the thread PCIntern
Response to Uncle Joe (Reply #18)
NanaCat This message was self-deleted by its author.
NanaCat
(1,824 posts)That's not unique to Dahmer, and Dahmer's victim choices also have zilch to do with Lecter, who doesn't exhibit racist tendencies in the series.
So, no, it's not a matter of racism, and it's extreme overreach to associate Lecter with it in this case. He has plenty of awful traits that do overlap TSFs, but not this one.
Uncle Joe
(58,695 posts)Last edited Sun May 12, 2024, 09:02 PM - Edit history (1)
Cannibalism is not in the least bit common in the U.S. and the best known real life cannibal today in modern America is Jeffrey Dahmer.
One thing is for certain Hannibal Lector had a hell of lot more in common with Jeffrey Dahmer than he did with the tragic 19th century Donner Party.
Lector and Dahmer turned to cannibalism by choice, and that is the key to *rump's subliminal, dehumanizing message to his not so bright followers.
mercuryblues
(14,580 posts)The only time he shows any emotion is when he is talking about violence, torture, and/or murder. Which is why I would not be surprised if he killed a girl while raping her. THAT is what I believe is what is being held over his head, by Putin and why Jeffery Epstein mysteriously "committed suicide" in prison.
DoBW
(769 posts)AND MORE KETCHUP !
Collimator
(1,641 posts). . And not because I was creeped out by the story or the character. My ability to suspend disbelief was stretched past its limits.
I agree with the assessment that Lechter is "gifted beyong comprehension" but nobody has the time-management skills to be able accomplish everything that Lechter did within the timeframe allotted. Also, he kept throwing suspcion on other characters, and the FBI agents would frown at the new suspect and assume guilt while collecting forensic evidence, (which Lechter could plant) when some basic police work would have cleared the suspect by establishing his whereabouts within the proper timeline.
I had that same problem with the second "Da Vinci Code" movie, "Angels & Demons". There were certain events that coalesced in the big moments of the movie that neither the villian nor any other mortal being could have controlled. Yes, one sets aside incredulity for the sake of enjoying a story, but as I said before, there are limits.
There are also limits to Trump's luck and perverse influence as well. Every phenomenon carries within it the seeds of its own destruction.
Most importantly, remember that Trump has a shitty work ethic. Hannibal Lechter had a successful psychiatric practice, consulted for the FBI, was socially active within his local fine arts scene, committed horrible crimes finished off with elaborate presentations (while leaving behind no forensic evidence) maintained a lovely home and threw fabulous dinner parties for which he selected and prepared the menus all by himself.
Trump could never accomplish all that, even with Melania's help.
PCIntern
(25,722 posts)of literally wiping his own ass.
Literally.
Think. Again.
(9,262 posts)It's an ego thing. He knows he will never be appreciated as a good man, so he glorifies himself in the villian role.