lecter1

Hannabal Lecter, a brilliant Doctor/psyhiatrist with plenty of cash. Thats what he seemed like to those lucky enough to have known him without being his next main course. Yet his history contains dark memories which no one knows about. The death of his parents and especially his sister must have played an important role in his 'evil streak'.
Unlike many people who you would expect to find in high security hospitals for the criminally insane, Hannibal Lecter is well educated, funded and is sophisticated. Unlike the most he doesn't have a sort of 'split personality' that the criminally insane tend to show. In Silence of the lambs you can contrast him with fellow in-mate (well he was before he killed himself), Miggs.
Miggs has no manners and the only two significant things he says or does is taunt Agent Clarice Starling when she comes to interview Hannibal lecter for the first time. As she passes his cell the first time, he hisses at her "I can smell your cunt". When she comes past him to leave he throws seamen at her. Hannibal Lecter is appaled at his manners and pursuades him to swallow his own tongue.
This is the kind of thing Hannibal Lecter hates the most and as he says to Barney, he prefers to eat the rude. In other words if your not rude to him, your not very likely to be dinner.

I think its fairly obvious who is Hannibal Lecters weak link. It doesn't take a qualified psycolagist to tell that Hannibal Lecter has a soft spot for Agent Clarice Starling. I wont get into it too much on this site but if you want to read more go to http://www.angelfire.com/movies/HLbites/mainpage.html
In Silence of the lambs he shows intrest in her. Mainly because she's young, ideolistic and she treats him with respect (she's attractive too which is a +). He helps her solve the Buffalo Bill case, not by giving her the answers but by giving her clues so she can work it out herself. The last time she speaks to him there's the finger 'bit'. In the book it says "the touch crackled in his eyes". Awwwwwwww.

In 'Hannibal' it becomes more obvious that he likes and is even obsessive towards Clarice. He has followed her career for years after her escape and after her 'public disgrace' he writes to her.
He also goes back to the USA to see her after the FBI worked out that he'd been living in Florence.
He is captured by an old victem who suvived but wants revenge and Clarice comes to rescue him (figure out for yourself why!). She is shot whilst doing this (in the film with a bullet and in the book with a stun gun). Instead of leaving her there to die he carries her out and takes her to where he is staying and sorts out her wounds.
The ending to the book is fairly straight forward. He keeps her drugged so he can try to relieve past torments and they end up together, happy ever after. (we pressume...they are still happy two years later for sure). In the film its not so happy an ending. He shows how much he cares though by chopping his own hand of instead of hers so he could escape. A big talking point is the kiss. In my opinion he's showing her that although he's giving her the choice he still has control of her. The hand bit also has the same significance. He is the one who chooses who's hand gets the chop. He's in control. Which is a bit of a matcho thing really! Sorry any men reading this but it is!