The essential elements of the genre of the novel "Silence of the Lambs"
... ”Let Senator Martin tell you how grateful she is for saving her daughter, let her hand you the markers” (Harris 355). As a typical character from a crime-fictional novel, agent Starling has a very difficult psychological background which helps her more easily communicate with and understand Dr. Lecter: “The worst memory of my childhood was the death of my father. He was very strong. He lasted more than a month. My mother died when I was very young so my father had become the whole world to me. When he left me, I had nothing. I was ten years old.” (Harris 166). The majority of the story line takes place from Starling’s point of view, which is also a characteristic of the genre. By creating a major character that possesses both qualities like courage and blemishes like inner torments, the author of The Silence of the Lambs creates a typical crime/psychological book. Another essential element of this genre is fact that its representative novels are highly plot-driven. There is always a definite problem that is set, worked out, and resolved. In the beginning of Thomas Harris’s famous novel, agent Starling is given the task to make a profile of the already caught serial killers and thus, find some answers about the murderer Buffalo Bill who mutilates his victims and, as newspapers describe, “…Attacked Again, Woman Missing Leaving Blouse Behind.” (Harris 5) and “…SKINS FIFTH” (Harris 5). Throughout the story, the dedicated FBI agent investigates the crimes and manages to make a profile of the killer by talking to the psychopath Hannibal Lecter. In the end, Clarice Starling catches Buffalo Bill’s trace and soon finds him. A plot scheme of beginning, middle, and end is recurring in most of the crime-stories. Therefore, by following the same scheme, the novel The Silence of the Lambs is a typical example of having a crime/psychological genre. The connection between the detective and the criminal is vital for the crime/psychological novels. In Thomas Harris’s work Clarice Starling and Dr. Lecter are constantly exchanging information both for their own benefit. Hannibal, who is a psychiatrist, wants to learn more about the vulnerable female FBI agent in order to test the strength of her mind while, on the other hand, the only way Starling can get any information from him is by exchanging it with stories from her childhood. That is why, during the last time they meet, when Clarice says: “Then, please tell me how...” Dr. Lecter answers: “No. It's your turn to tell me, Clarice. You don't have any more vacations to sell.” (Harris 228). Hannibal also wants to benefit himself by getting rewards for helping FBI, such as a room with a window, unlimited access to books and any other materials, and others. Knowing what would please him, agent Starling manages to trick Dr. Lecter by promising him several advantages in exchange with some information: “I...