Serial Killer in Popular Literature: a Formula Analysis of Hannibal Lecter Series
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Dian Nur Endah — Serial Killer in Popular Literature: A Formula Analysis of Hannibal Lecter Series SERIAL KILLER IN POPULAR LITERATURE: A FORMULA ANALYSIS OF HANNIBAL LECTER SERIES Dian Nur Endah [email protected] Abstract Using textual analysis, this research attempts to find out the formula of Hannibal Lecter novels. These formula is analyzed and studied to acquire convention and invention in Hannibal Lecter characterization compared to other serial killer fictions. These two aspects are the foremost things that enable Hannibal Lecter novel series become acceptable and popular in American society. The result of this research is that there are some aspects in Hannibal Lecter characterization that are defined as convention of serial killer genre; 1) depiction of serial killer as white male, 2) depiction of serial killer as being highly intelligent and strong. Meanwhile, aspects that show invention of serial killer characerization are; 1) Depiction of serial killer as person who commits killing to bad people, 2) Performing cannibalism practice as civilized action, 3) Being woman lover, not misogynist, and 4) Being sociable man. Keywords: serial killer, formula, convention, invention, crimes Introduction twwentieth different languages and have sold tens of millions of copies (Random Novels and films that narrate serial killing House, 2005: Sexton). have been existing in American popular literature since the emergence of The Popularity of literary works is actually Killer Inside Me (1940). It is followed by associated with sense of familiarity in series like Robert Bloch’s Psycho (1960- which served by two conditions, first, the 1980), Patricia Highsmith’s Mr. Ripley story provides the most basic pattern that is (1970-1980) series and Hannibal Lecter acceptable in many different cultural and series (1981-2003) by Thomas Harris. social backgrounds. This pattern is not These novels are made into various limited in any spesific stage like gender, adaptations such as films and serial age and race. Second, the story serves the television. All of them depicts serial killer spesific characteristics in which commonly as violence performer that torture and kill used in a society where it is produced. This their victims. characteristic is limited to certain society that it can be different from one to others. Among the series, Hannibal Lecter is the most popular one. Hannibal the cannibal This sense of familiary is not the only has fulfilled public enjoyment of serial measurement of novels or films’ killer since its emergence in 1981 in The popularity. A novel or film must have a Red Dragon. The sequels, The Silence of certain unique qualities that differ them to the Lambs, Hannibal and Hannibal Rising others. This unique qualities can be found have been published in more than in depiction of character, plot, setting or 1 RUBIKON Volume 3 / Number 2 September 2016 anything that deals with the intrinsic Discussion unsure of the story. This different depiction can be called as deviation or what best Depiction of Hannibal Lecter as serial called as invention. In term of popular killer comprises conventional formulas literature, this unique quality enables a that are specified into American society. certain work to be more appealing than This conventional formula enables others. Hannibal Lecter to be acceptable in society in spite of its violence descriptions. In perspective of this research, Hannibal Hannibal Lecter comprises characteristic Lecter novel series comprises sense of that are deviated from most portrayal of familiarity and unique qualities that makes serial killer. Hannibal Lecter shows them become so much popular in contradict characteristics that mostly found American society. Hannibal Lecter in one in serial killer fictions. These invention side converge and all at once deviated precisely makes Hannibal Lecter becomes from formula of serial killer convention. more appealing than others. These unique The focus of studying on Hannibal Lecter characteristics also give new information formula also means sudying social and about alteration in society. cultural background. Conventional Attributes of serial killer Methodology Conventional attributes of serial killer The data of this research are collected by comprises the depiction of white male. the technique of library research. The Hannibal Lecter is portrayed as white in primary source of the data is taken from spite of the fact that he is Italian who are the novel The red Dragon (1981), The usually portrayed as having darker skin. Silence of The Lambs (1988), Hannibal This can be seen from the description of (1999) and Hannibal Rising (2006) by four novels. This whitess is also well Thomas Harris published by St. Martin’s portrayed in movie adaptations like The Press. The secondary data taken from the Silence of The Lambs (1991), The Red movie adaptation with the same title that Dragon (2002), Hannibal (2006) and released from 1991 until 2007. Other Hannibal Rising (2007) that starred by discourses such as journal, articles, thesis, Anthony Hopkins, Gaspard Ulliel and dissertation, essays, dictionaries, and Mads Mikkelsen. encyclopedia taken to support the thesis- writing process. Another conventional attribute of serial killer is characteristics of having physical This research uses descriptive qualitative and intellectual strength. Both of as method of analysis, and, thus, it is characteristics are only found in depiction methodologically qualitative research in of white male. Other non-white male analyzing characterization of Hannibal groups such as woman and black are in Lecter in The Red Dragon (1981), The subordinate position. Whitess in novels Silence of The Lambs (1988), Hannibal and films depict highly intelligent whether (1999) and Hannibal Rising (2006). it is attached to protagonist or anatagonist. Adi (2008) stated white villain (Euro- 2 Dian Nur Endah — Serial Killer in Popular Literature: A Formula Analysis of Hannibal Lecter Series America) is usually described as smart and psychotic killer. Being undone from tight tech master. They are the skilled people surveillance, Lecter had bigger chance to that espionage to the varying organization escape from the cell. even with maximum security. Even if the criminal is perceived as mentally ill, still Hannibal Lecter is also narrated using his they are portrayed as highly intelligent knowledge in surgery and human anatomy (Adi, 2008). to victimize people. It can be seen through Hannibal Lecter’s method in cutting open Being violent or brutal is another agent Kendler’s skull. Using the usual characteristic that is attached to the scalpel, Hannibal Lecter cut off Kendler’s depiction of white male. Adi (2008) states, skull and picks a part of the brain without “kulit putih pucat bagi laki-laki, apalagi using local anesthesia. “Dr Lecter’s albino, dianggap sama seperti kulit hitam method in removing the top of Krendler’s sebagai simbol kejahatan dan tindakan skull was as old as Egyptian medicine, brutal” (p. 109). Description of brutal or except that he had the advantage of an violent actions are so often found in autopsy saw with cranial blade, a skull key portrayal of man that it is associated with and better anesthetics. The brain itself feels stereotype of white male as being strong. no pain” (Harris, 2000, p. 350). Laura Cardey (2013) states that white male is used to be portrayed as stronger than Another aspect that shows serial killer as female. The character is often angry and highly intelligent man is that depiction of above all, he is aggressive in the extreme Hannibal Lecter that creates such and engages in violent behavior. More complicated crime scene. He put much specifically, Cardey (2013) states effort in displaying the bodies into such description of violent behavior is work of art. It is found that Lecter moves accompanied by the lack of emotional the bodies from the actual crime scene into feeling. such strange circumstances. He also encloses some unusual details to the Serial Killer depiction as Preservation of bodies. For example, the murder inspector White Male Stereotype Rinaldi Pazzi in Florence Italy (Hannibal, 1999). Pazzi was found hung in the place Stereotype of white male as being highly his ancestor was hung, Palazzo Vecchio in intelligent can be seen through the way building complex, Piazza in Florence. His crimes are presented by Hannibal Lecter stomach was torn with the heart is missing, depiction. Through the novel series, replaced with the toxic flower, Belladonna. Hannibal Lecter shows crime as action that needs superior ability. In The Silence of In performing such killing or torturing, The Lambs (1988) Hannibal Lecter is Hannibal Lecter does not leave any narrated using some tricks to escape from traceable evidence or forensics detail such cell with full surveillance. He purposely as finger prints and blood sample. As lack participated in the case of Buffalo Bill in of evidence, the crime scenes are barely Memphis by telling false information since possible to understand that police and he knew that the police guards in Memphis psychiatrist demands the help from the one would treat him like a usual criminal not who is often depicted as genius to 3 RUBIKON Volume 3 / Number 2 September 2016 participate in investigation. This depiction also shows murder as actualization of of genius person becomes crucial that it physical strength. Hannibal Lecter is never emphasizes the ability of the killer’s in narrated using riffle or gun. He uses usual doing crimes. For example, depiction of equipment that needs lots of physical Will Graham in The Red Dragon (1981) in strength such as rope, dagger or stick. which depicted as having great ability in analyzing human psyche. Though Graham This depiction of Hannibal Lecter as the owns such quality, still, he explains the strong man is also accompanied by difficulty of catching intelligent criminal description of him as being lack of like Hannibal Lecter. emotional feeling. Through the series, Hannibal Lecter is never narrated as being Hannibal Lecter is also depicted as the emotionally driven in killing or lone fighter.