Red Dragon Review

Out of the novels so far, this one felt real. The fear was real; the stakes were real. Yes, there were some aspects that were reminiscent of police dramas on television, but the fear in Graham was perhaps among the most realistic aspects of this novel.

Through Graham, the settings seemed like a prison. During his investigations in the Leed’s home, each object had a story that was touched upon. In an odd way, he was putting pieces of his own life together, but looking in all the wrong places. The places and things seemed to haunt Graham, or was he obsessed?

Graham, though a simple character in a way, with closer attention, he is more complex. His ordinary aspects are a major drawing point. When he isn’t obsessing over the murders, we find him to be like anyone else: honest, humorous, and with a childhood filled with mischief. Springfield has keen instincts and some strong leadership abilities.

Harris does not forget his other characters. They seemed to breath, too. Price is levelheaded, and he can work under pressure and he has a way with words. Princi hates being called “doc” which tells a reader he takes himself and his profession seriously, a real type-A personality.

Now, the monster: Dr. Lecter himself. He is a complete enigma, darkness made flesh. One of the more macabre aspects of his personality is that fact his heartrate didn’t increase when he bit of a nurse’s tongue. He is devoid of any and all sense of morality and emotion. Lecter is an intelligent, cold menace. He is clearly dangerous. He isn’t allowed anything sharper than a crayon, yet even a crayon would be deadly in his possession. His cunning and intellect set him apart from the obsessed psycho. He’s a sociopath with no regard for human life. He can manipulate others from isolation and make his own goals from the confines of his cell. He simply cannot be contained.

Lecter’s skill with words s perhaps his most frightening aspect. His silver tongue can do just as much damage as a knife. How he got Graham’s home phone number was nothing more than chilling. The ease in which he got it leaves chills

Harris has a way with words, much like his villain. The narration was straight and narrow, but left enough room for imagination. Harris changed his POV when it was needed but did it well enough so as to not interrupt the flow of the story.

Going through this novel, a question arose: what is evil?

I don’t believe Lecter sees himself as evil. I would go so far as to think the idea of good and evil doesn’t register, though I would think he has a great deal of knowledge about the subject.

Is Dr. Lecter evil?

A short answer: yes. But his own perspective on himself would lead one to reconsider, but a staunch and rigid definition of evil would place him with that label. The consumption of human flesh is certainly a taboo act in Western culture, which is certainly evil. But Lecter perspective about it and his own way of speaking could convince one he is not necessarily evil, misunderstood perhaps.