Lambs as metaphor in connection with psychopathic killers

[Benjamin Barrett]

The movie "Silence of the Lambs" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silence_of_the_Lambs) was released in 1991, three years after the novel. In the movie and book, the protagonist relates to a psychopathic killer (cannibal) a childhood memory in which she tries, but is unable, to rescue a lamb.

The film hit a creepy-note with a lot of people, and it may be that "lambs" is here to stay as a metaphor (for an innocent) in connection to a psychopathic killer.

Twenty years late, in the October 24 article "‘Dangerous Instincts’: Ex-FBI profiler explains dangers of that ‘nice’ neighbor" in the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/dangerous-instincts-fbi-profiler-explains-the-dangers-of-that-nice-neighbor/2011/10/17/gIQAkvNCDM_story.html), Monica Hesse uses the lamb metaphor in connection to psychopaths without reference to the movie or book the "Silence of the Lambs":

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Is it possible to tell whether the lawn guy is a psychopath, or just overcharging you on fertilizer? The lambs are screaming, and they are in your cul de sac.
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I suppose "screaming" might be considered a sly reference to the word "silence" in the title….

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA
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