Alfred Adler said once, “Man does not know what he knows.” It means that even though we have an extensive education, we are unable to understand the vast majority of it. This quote gets a new meaning in The Silence of the Lambs. Clarice starling, an FBI trainee is assigned to the case of Buffalo Bill, a high profile serial killer. Hannibal Lecter is a serial killer and cannibal who she meets on her journey. He gives her clues that will lead to Buffalo Bill’s capture. Clarice is left with many bits of information by Hannibal Lecter, but she must decide what they mean.
Clarice Starling is exposed to many Alfred Adler theories while interviewing Hannibal Lecter or examining corpses. Clarice, the protagonist of Thomas Harris’ The Silence of the Lambs embodies Alfred Adler’s theories of compensating for social interests and using defense mechanisms. Clarice demonstrates Adler’s theory of social concern by cooperating, valuing other people over herself and valuing common good. Jack Crawford, who is the head of Quantico’s behavioral sciences unit, observes Clarice Starling as he examines the body of Buffalo Bill’s victim. Crawford can detect Clarice’s social concern through the automatic bond she has with her victim. Clarice has a special relationship with the victim and can use this to learn more about her, even though the victim is dead. Clarice shows social concern by being able to relate with victims in a manner that her co-workers cannot. She uses this ability to build bonds and relationships for the good of all.
Clarice shows this concept in a more profound way when she convinces Crawford that Clarice should join the search party for Buffalo Bill. Clarice tells Jack that the victims are all female and there are no women involved in this. You know this is a fact. I can go into a woman’s bedroom and know three-times as much as a male would. Clarice explains Crawford that her being the only female on the team gives them an advantage since she is able gather more data than a man. Clarice, as the only female on the team, would have to deal with some discomfort being around all men. Clarice’s interest in the greater good allows her put this discomfort behind her and use her brain to help save Catherine. Starling’s interest in the social good allows her to use all of her skills to help others achieve their goals. Starling is demonstrating Alfred’s concept of compensation as she tries to overcome a superiority complex due to her childhood. The narrator tells the story of Starling, who lived in boarding houses on scholarships and had grades that were higher than her clothes. (Harris, 191) Starling was forced to compensate for the poor conditions of her upbringing, and her education has been a way she did this. Clarice was always forced to compensate for the financial situation of her family because her grades were better than what she wore. Starling was able dissipate into a group of wealthy students through her UVA and boarding school education.
Clarice is an excellent example of Alfred’s compensation principle because she worked hard her entire life to compensate her low-income upbringing. Clarice’s recollection of the achievements of her family members is a perfect example of Starling embodying this theory. The author tells us, “One Starling uncle had his junior-college degree cut out on his tombstone.” Starling, whose weapon was the competitive test, had been ruled by school for years. Starling, the only member of her family to have ever attended and graduated from real university. Clarice, feeling alone in the world and unable to do anything for herself or her family, put all her energy into her studies to compensate. Clarice Starling has lived her entire life exemplifying Alfred’s theory on compensation by striving to be the best in school to compensate for her family’s incompetence. Clarice uses defenses to protect herself from the painful memories that hinder her in her job. Harris tells Clarice to hurry up before she enters Frederica’s house. “To dwell on Catherine on this last day would be a waste of time.” It would be difficult to concentrate on anything else if she was being processed as Kimberley Bimmel and Fredrica Emberg had been. Clarice is described by the narrator as using repression, a defensive mechanism. Repression is a way to suppress or block unwanted thoughts.
Clarice’s anxiety and stress would cause her to “waste a day” if she were to dwell on Catherine’s death all day. Clarice uses her defense mechanism so that she can do her job well. Starling also receives a phone call informing her that a rescue mission is on the way to save Catherina. Harris describes it as “Still it was a loss to be close to the arrest and have a great idea but a few days late. To wind up so far away, being busted from school, and to end up with a bad idea, yet to be so close. Starling has long been suspected of being guilty and that Starlings have had bad luck for hundreds of years. Starling’s upset because she thinks she lost the investigation despite having been so close. Starling doesn’t take any responsibility for what happened, but instead blames her bad luck on her family. This is known as denial. Starling doesn’t accept that she might be responsible for her losses and believes it was just bad luck. Starling uses repression and self-confidence to maintain her confidence, allowing her to do her job effectively.
Clarice starling is an example of Adler’s theories about social interest and compensation. Starling’s bonding, care and compensation for victims are all examples of social interest. Starling also uses defense mechanisms, such as clearing her head, to blame her misfortunes on forces she can’t control. Starling is unable to understand the psychological events that are taking place in her mind, even though she has a great deal of knowledge. Adler’s statement that “man understands much less than he knows” is a good example.
Works Referenced
Harris, Thomas. The movie The Silence of the Lambs is a thriller about a young FBI trainee who teams up with a mad genius to capture a serial killer. St. Martin’s published a book in New York in 1988. Print.
