Summary
Short summary of the subplot.
The subplot in "The silence of the lambs" deals with Clarice’s and "Buffalo Bill’s" wish to change. We get to follow Clarice while she fights to develop and reach her goals. But she has to deal with her past in order to develop. The problem is that she is afraid of her past, it hurts to face it, so she has to be forced to face it. Dr. Lecter helps her with this and finally she succeeds and reaches her goal.
"Buffalo Bill" also wants to change, but his past is much more terrifying than Clarice’s past and he has no one that helps him to face it. So he tries to find another way to change and starts to kill. He becomes mad. This is the wrong way to develop; in fact it makes him unable to develop at all. He never reaches his goal and gets killed in the end, due to his own wish to kill.
What do I think of “The Silence of the Lambs” and its subplot?
I think it is brilliant. The main plot is thrilling and exciting and the subplot is interesting and of always current interest. The whole film is simply very intelligent.
The characters are fascinating, you love Clarice for her straightforwardness, honesty and goodness, you hate "Buffalo Bill" and his sick mind, but you can also feel pity for him and you can not help but love Dr. Lecter; this fascinating monster that is also intelligent and a real gentlemen.
The director Jonathan Demme must have worked very hard, because not one scene is incomplete, the symbols are simple but well hidden. "The Silence of the Lambs" really makes you feel and that is one of the most important things in a film!