59 pages • 1 hour read
Thomas HarrisRed Dragon
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1981A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Authorial Context: Thomas Harris and the Hannibal Lecter Series
Thomas Harris is an American author known for his thrilling and psychologically intense crime novels. Born in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1940, Harris began his career as a journalist, working for newspapers such as The Associated Press. His interest in crime and criminal psychology became evident in his early writings, setting the stage for his later success as a novelist. Harris gained widespread acclaim and recognition with the publication of his first novel, Black Sunday (1975). However, it was his second novel, Red Dragon, published in 1981, that introduced the world to his most iconic character: Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
Red Dragon follows the story of FBI profiler Will Graham as he hunts down a serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy or The Great Red Dragon. Graham enlists the help of Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer whom Graham himself caught, to gain insights into the mind of the Tooth Fairy. The novel was adapted into a film, retitled Manhunter, with Brian Cox playing the role of (the slightly renamed) Hannibal Lecktor, but the film was not a commercial success. Harris further delved into the world of Dr. Hannibal Lecter with his next novel, The Silence of the Lambs, published in 1988. The book introduced Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee who seeks Lecter’s assistance in capturing another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. The Silence of the Lambs became a massive bestseller and was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 1991, further popularizing the character of Hannibal Lecter.
Harris continued to explore the character of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in subsequent novels. Hannibal, published in 1999, picks up the story years after the events of The Silence of the Lambs. It follows the complex relationship between Lecter and Clarice Starling as she becomes the target of revenge by a wealthy and disfigured victim of Lecter’s. The novel delves into Lecter’s origins and childhood, revealing his dark past and providing further insight into his psyche. In 2006, Harris published Hannibal Rising, a prequel to the series that explores the early life of Hannibal Lecter. The book delves into Lecter’s traumatic experiences during World War II and his transformation into a calculated and sadistic killer. It examines the formative events that shaped Lecter into the character depicted in the previous novels. Both Hannibal and Hannibal Rising were adapted into feature films though neither were able to recapture the commercial or critical success of The Silence of the Lambs.
The Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter characters were also adapted into the television series Hannibal, which combined original stories with reworked versions of the events of the novels. In the series, Lecter is a free man who consults with the FBI while operating as a serial killer. His crimes are slowly revealed by Graham and Crawford, who become embroiled in a complicated psychological pursuit of Lecter. The series’ third and final season adapts both Hannibal and Red Dragon, culminating in the capture of Francis Dolarhyde. An adaptation of Silence of the Lambs has also been made in which Clarice Starling’s story—particularly in the aftermath of the events of the novel—is explored. Due to complicated issues regarding the intellectual property associated with certain characters and storylines, Lecter is noticeably absent from the series. The series was cancelled after one season.
Literary Context: William Blake
William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker, best known for his visionary and mystical works. Born in London, Blake showed artistic talent from a young age and received limited formal education. He was largely self-taught and developed a unique artistic style that combined vivid imagery, complex symbolism, and poetic language. Blake’s artistic journey was deeply intertwined with his spiritual beliefs. He rejected the rigid doctrines of organized religion and embraced a personal, mystical approach to spirituality. His artwork often explores themes of spirituality, the nature of the soul, and the struggle between good and evil. Blake’s fascination with biblical themes and symbolism can be traced back to his early years. He grew up in a family that belonged to the Church of England, but emphasized individual interpretation of the Bible. This upbringing had a profound influence on his artistic and spiritual development, as he sought to express his own interpretations and visions through his work.
One of Blake’s most famous paintings, The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun, is part of his larger series of works inspired by the Book of Revelation from the Bible. Completed in 1805, the painting depicts a powerful red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, hovering menacingly above a woman who is radiantly clothed in the sun. The image is rich in symbolic meaning, representing the cosmic battle between good and evil, with the woman symbolizing purity and spiritual enlightenment, while the dragon embodies darkness and chaos. Blake employed intricate line work and vibrant colors to create a sense of energy and movement in the composition. The painting showcases his use of contrasting tones and bold brushstrokes, giving the image a sense of intensity and emotional power. In addition to his visual art, Blake was also an accomplished poet. His poetry often incorporates the same themes and symbols found in his paintings, creating a cohesive body of work that explores the depths of human experience and spirituality. His most famous collection of poems, Songs of Innocence and of Experience, juxtaposes the purity and joy of innocence with the corruption and hardship of experience, reflecting his belief in the duality of human nature.
Blake struggled to gain recognition and financial stability during his lifetime. His unconventional beliefs and unorthodox artistic style made it difficult for him to find a wide audience. He produced his works independently, using a method called relief etching that allowed him to combine text and image on the same plate. This process, known as “illuminated printing,” gave him complete control over the production of his books but limited the number of copies he could produce. In his later years, Blake’s art and poetry gained some recognition among a small circle of artists and intellectuals. He continued to create, even in the face of financial difficulties and personal hardships. After his death in 1827, William Blake’s reputation and influence grew steadily. His unique artistic style and mystical vision resonated with later generations of artists, writers, and thinkers. Today, his works are celebrated for their imaginative power, profound spirituality, and their ability to challenge conventional ways of thinking. The novel Red Dragon borrows its name from Blake’s painting. In the novel, the serial killer Francis Dolarhyde obsesses over the power and energy of the dragon depicted in the painting. He kills people, believing that doing so will help him transform into the titular Red Dragon. In one scene, he seeks out The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun and eats the watercolor painting as part of his transformative process.
Cultural Context: The FBI Behavioral Science Unit
The FBI Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) is a division within the Federal Bureau of Investigation that specializes in criminal profiling and behavioral analysis. Established in the 1970s, the unit revolutionized the field of law enforcement by applying psychological and behavioral sciences to investigations, helping to catch some of the most notorious criminals in history.
The origins of the BSU can be traced back to the early 1970s when a series of heinous crimes, such as the Ted Bundy murders and the Zodiac killings, shocked the nation. Law enforcement agencies struggled to understand the motives and behavior of these criminals, leading to the realization that a new approach was needed to tackle such cases. In response to this growing need, two FBI agents, Robert Ressler and John Douglas, pioneered the concept of criminal profiling. Ressler and Douglas recognized that by analyzing crime scenes, victimology, and offender behavior, it was possible to develop a psychological profile of the unknown perpetrator, aiding in the identification and apprehension of dangerous criminals.
Ressler and Douglas collaborated with renowned psychiatric experts, such as Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess and Dr. Park Dietz, to establish a formal program within the FBI that focused on behavioral analysis. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the Behavioral Science Unit in 1974. Initially, the unit consisted of a small group of agents and psychologists dedicated to developing profiling techniques and applying them to active investigations. In its early years, the BSU faced skepticism from traditional law enforcement agencies. However, their groundbreaking work and successful outcomes began to gain recognition and respect within the law enforcement community. The unit’s expertise was instrumental in solving high-profile cases, such as the Atlanta child murders and the Green River Killer investigation.
The success of the BSU led to its expansion and evolution. In 1984, the unit was rebranded as the Behavioral Science Investigative Support Unit (BSISU) to emphasize its role in providing investigative support to law enforcement agencies across the country. The BSISU offered specialized training and consultation services to help investigators understand and profile criminals, assisting in the development of investigative strategies and narrowing down suspect lists. During the 1990s, the BSISU underwent another transformation and was renamed the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). This restructuring led to the establishment of multiple BAU divisions, each specializing in different areas of behavioral analysis, including crimes against children, crimes committed by sexual offenders, and terrorism.
In Thomas Harris’s Hannibal Lecter series, the FBI’s Behavior Science Unit features prominently. Will Graham has worked for the Unit in the past and, in Red Dragon, he is recruited by Jack Crawford to help construct a profile of a serial killer named the Tooth Fairy. In later novels, Crawford continues to work at the BSU. The efforts of the BSU are also featured in the films and TV series which are based on the novels in question.
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