This possible reading is what makes me really dislike this book- (for many reasons but especially) its gender politics. However, he does clearly imply that Clarice is able to control Hannibal's homicidal cravings somewhat with sex, and I think you can definitely question whether she's with him just because she loves him or whether she also feels a duty to be with him because she's developed the ability to curb his madness.' James wrote: I didn't pick up on any significant implication that Clarice was with him for any reason but by choice. Harris' word choice and scene description implies that this is *truly* where Clarice wants to be. The narrative at the end of the book attributes her compliance at least in part to the drugs, but the romanticism of the writing in Mr. By the end of 'Hannibal' (the book) she has absolutely no autonomy and doesn't seem particularly concerned about it.

In SotL (again, the book) Clarice actually comes out stronger for having hunted Bill using Lecter (as Will did). In 'Red Dragon' (the book) Will has been psychically damaged- perhaps beyond repair- by his hunting of Lecter. Ultimately, 'Hannibal' (both the book and the film) did a severe disservice to the Clarice character- not simply disempowering her, but reducing her to a drugged doll that he carries around (sometimes literally) as his ultimate trophy. His Clarice in 'Hannibal' is much more an amalgam of Jodie Foster's Clarice with a bit of the original literary Clarice thrown in. I think in 'Hannibal' Harris himself fell victim to the 'Cult of Lecter' that glorified/lionized the character following the release of SotL.

Hannibal harris