Hannibal By Thomas Harris; Book Review

Title: Hannibal

Author :Thomas Harris

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: Thriller, Horror, Gothic

Introduction
This 1999 novel by American author Thomas Harris is one filled with pain, gore and all things bad. Through the course of this book, the author takes us through the mind, life and actions of Clarice Starling, a brilliant FBI agent and Dr Hannibal Lecter, a serial killer and psychopath.

MAJOR THEME.

CRIME

All forms of crime take place in this book. Some are petty, some are borne out of greed and some are just abominable. The most important crime and also which forms a large chunk of the foundation of this book (though not fully narrated) is the attack of former psychiatrist Dr Hannibal on Mason Verger, his patient. Mason Verger could be described as a sociopath who loved to torture people. He was recommended for therapy with Dr Hannibal and things never remained the same for both of them. Dr Hannibal became one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals and Mason was left without a face. Literally.

“Actually, I’m writing to refresh your memory on the subject of your former nose. In your inspirational interview the other day, you claim that you fed your nose to the pooches, all waggy at your feet. Not so: you ate it yourself, for refreshment. From the crunchy sound when you chewed it up, I would say it had a consistency similar to that of a chicken gizzard”.

Clarice Starling on the other hand, is a determined officer of the law. She risks everything and loses everything to see to the capture of Hannibal Lecter whom we are told has a weird interest in her too.

SUBTHEMES.

1.Cannibalism

“On a related subject, Signore Pazzi, I must confess to you: I’m giving serious thought to eating your wife…The liver and kidneys would be suitable for dinner right away”.

Dr Lecter is famously known as Hannibal the Cannibal. He kills people for meat and makes a splendid meal out of their body parts. I say splendid because how else would I describe the process of making a feast of a man’s brain while conversing with said man? Don’t believe me? Check this out.

“Who are you anyway? ” Krendler said. “You’re not starling. You’ve got the spot on your face but you’re not Starling”.

“I don’t expect you to change your attitudes entirely Mr Krendler” Dr Lecter said “All we ask is that you keep an open mind”.

Dr Lecter lifted off the top of Krendler’s head, put it on the salver and removed it to the sideboard. The pinky gray dome of Krendler’s brain was visible above his truncated skull. Dr Lecter removed a slice of Krendler’s prefontal lobe, then another, until he had four and placed the slices in a bowl of ice water.

With Splendid dexterity, the doctor brought the firm slices to a plate, dredged them lightly in seasoned flour and thin in fresh brioche crumbs. He grated a fresh black truffle into his sauce and finished it with squeeze of lemon. Quickly he sauteed the slices until they were just brown on each side.

“Smells great! ” Krendler said.

Go figure.

2.Vengeance

They say vengeance is for mad men? Is this true? Or does vengeance make a man mad? Mason verger was consumed with his desire for vengeance on Dr Hannibal Lecter. After his encounter with the doctor, he was permanently paralyzed, bed ridden and left with one eye and no face. One can say that he spent all his miserable and sick life pursuing the man. His wealth and wide spread influence made it an easy task to accomplish.

"Mason would pay one million United States dollars for Dr Hannibal Lecter’s head and hands. He would privately pay 3 million dollars for the doctor alive, no questions asked."

Unfortunately, the sweet victory of vengeance was a taste that remained foreign to Mason’s mouth for as long as he lived. Poor poor soul.

3.Art

I recently watched the movie ‘The Mentalist’ where a serial killer called “Red john” considered himself to be an artist. Hence after killing a victim, he would ensure that the first thing a person saw when he walked into the murder scene was the image of a round face drawn clock wise with 3 fingers dipped in the victims blood.

Dr Hannibal Lecter also considered himself to be a creature of art which is hard to dispute considering his impeccable taste in wine, food, music, sport cars, renaissance art and what not. He often killed his victims in dramatic and torturous fashion. He once killed a man in a Norse sacrificial custom that involved pulling the man’s lungs out of his back making them look like wings, while taking out his thumbs.

“He left him looking like a medieval medical illustration called ‘Wound man’s. He’s interested in medieval things “.

4.Sex
First, there’s incest that takes place between Mason Verger and his younger sister Margot. The incidences of their disturbed childhood is not fully discussed but merely visited, in bits and pieces: enough to guess the nature of their relationship.

“you used to be able to make me come when we were kids, Margot”.

“You hurt me when I was little, Mason. You hurt me and you dislocated my elbow making me do the other… I still can’t curl more than 80 pounds with my left arm”.

“Well, you wouldn’t take the chocolate. I said we’ll talk about it little sister, when this job is done”.

Margot the abused sister, grew up to be a lesbian, which leads us to the another form of sexuality. Homosexuality. Homosexuality is only displayed between Margot and her lesbian partner Judy. They fall in love and plan to have a child together, a child that would inherit the entire properties of the Verger family. The only way that would be possible was to impregnate Judy with Mason’s sperm. Weird stuff….

PARTS

The book is divided into 6 beautiful parts. Each of which brings focus into different sets of people placed in different locations.
Part I – Washington DC

Here the writer introduced us to Clarice Starling. She is known as the FBI’s killing machine and suffers an intense scandal that forces Dr Hannibal to write a letter, consoling her. This is the first time in 7 years anyone has heard from him since he escaped Solitary confinement, killing 5 people in the process.

"Dear Clarice,

I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming. My own never bothered me, except for the inconvenience of being incarcerated, but you may lack perspective. "

Part II – Florence

After fleeing prison, Dr Hannibal got plastic surgery and relocated to the most romantic city in the world, Florence. Here he works as a keeper of the museum and is known as Dr Fell. He is soon discovered by a greedy policeman who decides to sell him out to Mason Verger. Things end badly.

Part III – To the new world.

After realizing that he had been sold, Dr Hannibal flees Italy and moves back to the United States of America. Matter of fact, a stone throw from the FBI building. Meanwhile, after a failed attempt to capture his nemesis, Mason Verger begins to plot again for the Doctor to be captured and eaten alive by tusked pigs. He employs a psychologist who tries to uncrack the queen relationship between Dr Hannibal and Clarice Starling.

“Dr Doemling, does he want to fuck her or kill her or eat her, or what?”

Part IV – Notable occasions on the calendar of dread.

Mason Verger finally locates Dr Hannibal and makes elaborate plans for his death.

“No blows to the head. No broken bones. No eye damage. I want him to see their faces when they eat his head”.

Part V – A pound of flesh

Mason finally captures Dr Hannibal and prepares a ceremonies death. This event is interrupted by former FBI agent Clarice Starling. The night ends with blood shed and confusion. Starlight rescues Hannibal bit ends up unconscious in his arms after being shot by a tranquilizer rifle. Mason is once again, dissapointed.

"When he faced them and they smelt no fear, they trotted back to the easy pickings on the ground."

Part VI – A long spoon.

Let’s save this, till you read the book. You’re welcome!

Rating

8/10

Personal Review

I know you have so many questions, it would be weird if you didn’t. But it’s impossible to capture even half the details of the book in a single book review. I will however, answer any questions you ask me in the comments. Before you begin to develop hard feelings towards this fictional character, you should know, that Dr Hannibal Lecter’s younger sister Mischa was eaten by cannibals during the holocaust. A victim of cannibalism ends up becoming a cannibal.
Perhaps we do not reap what we sow. But rather, we sow what we reap.

xoxo.