So while Hannibal is in fact evil in his own way, I think some people see him as more of an anti-hero throughout the franchise. Especially in the novel/film Hannibal, he became more of a hero in his own movie while at the same time he was a bad guy to be captured in the perspective of other characters. Could he be a chaotic neutral or neutral evil kind of character to you? Does the film The Silence of the Lambs for instance have two villains (Hannibal and Buffalo Bill) or is it really just Buffalo Bill? What do you think
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pablohax OP t1_j8ggagx wrote
Lecter might have sent Buffalo Bill over the edge which might have caused James Gumb to become "Buffalo Bill". Might really just be a theory though.
FeloniousSausage t1_j8ciqgz wrote
In the film The Silence of the Lambs, Lecter is definitely an anti-hero. The sequel film (Red Dragon, which was actually an earlier book...) paints him as more of a villain or neutral evil character. He does let Dolarhyde get free and attack Will Graham again, which is more evil than anti-hero.
queenclemmy t1_j8kst7o wrote
Hannibal Lector is for me, a definite anti-hero. He represents the banal human condition, that he kills and eats those who "deserve it," as though he is doing humanity a favor. It is like he relishes the thought of being so misunderstood, that the rest of the human race couldn't possibly understand his actions for the good he sees himself doing.
And then there is Clarice. She is "good" at first glance, a real heroine. But she is misunderstood, broken. Hannibal sees Her true potential hindered by her own ego. She is repelled by hannibal because he represents what is considered evil and taboo by society, the opposite of the order and safety she knew from her late father. The one thing about Dr. Lector, was that he always hated egomaniacs, though he was one himself. Clarice was the one person who, I think, saw through this.
I always thought that Hannibal drawing out the most banal and carnal urges in Clarice, however horrific and manipulative his actions were, were meant to be for her character.
sumquy t1_j9n14rb wrote
i think in the original novel he was a villain, but the movie portrayed him as more of an anti-hero. both book and film sequel treated him as an anti-hero.
KvotheTheShadow t1_j8m6rra wrote
He os an anti hero because he was portrayed by the amazing Anthony Hopkins. He was so fantastic in that movie! The silence of the lambs speech gives me chills every time i see it!
Side note: loved his performance in Westworld. Totally sold that show for me!
b0xcard t1_j8chmgr wrote
Anti-hero. The primary antagonist is Buffalo Bill. Lecter is evil, but he serves more as a mentor for Clarice, and is the only one who really respects her as a person. And while he isn't afraid of killing non-villains, he'll rarely go out of his way to kill and eat anyone just to satiate his appetite.