Symbolism in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’: What the Moths and Lambs Mean

The moths and the lambs are two of the most striking images in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, which is full of profound symbolism.  These symbols, which stand for change, innocence, and the atrocities of violence, are essential to the film's psychological and thematic complexity.

The serial killer Buffalo Bill is intimately associated with the Death's-Head Hawkmoth, which makes multiple appearances in the movie.  The skull-like marking on the back of this species is well-known and serves to further emphasize the film's themes of identification and mortality.  As someone who skins his victims in order to build a "new self," Buffalo Bill sees the moth as a representation of metamorphosis—his own perverse metamorphosis.  He marks his victims as part of his unsettling rebirth process by putting moth pupae in their throats.

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 For Clarice Starling, the moth also symbolizes transformation.  She is also changing as she confronts her concerns and overcomes obstacles in her personal and professional life.  Clarice is developing into a more powerful, capable person, much like the moth coming out of its cocoon.

The film's title alludes to a crucial incident in Clarice's early years when she attempted to prevent the slaughter of lambs.  Her powerlessness in the face of injustice and brutality is symbolized by the lambs' cry.  She is constantly plagued by this recollection as an FBI trainee, which motivates her to apprehend murderers and defend the defenseless.

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 The notorious antagonist of the movie, Hannibal Lecter, utilizes this tale to control Clarice since he knows that her motivation is to silence the lambs.  Though it's unclear if the screaming has ended, Clarice ultimately finds some sort of redemption by rescuing Catherine Martin from Buffalo Bill.

–Farheen Ali