Above left: Starling has just arrived at the Baltimore prison for her second interview with Lecter. She is shown sitting in a corridor, just outside Lecter's cell, facing into it through a plexiglass barrier. The TV set to her left, shows a 'televangelist' (a person who preaches via television). This is actually a video that runs continuously, with the volume turned up high, as a means periodically used by Chilton (the prison psychologist) to punish Lecter. However, Chilton has had the volume muted for the interview. This is, of course, so that Starling and Lecter can converse; but the symbolic significance here is that Starling represents the presence of God, so the preacher stops talking and starts 'listening'. Note the way the white towel is shown around Starling's head and shoulders (in the above left screencap), making her appear like an angel; as previously indicated, she is a friendly angel of death, sent by God to destroy Satan's pupil, as represented by Jame Gumb. Above right: A view from behind Starling, facing Lecter. Note the reflection of the TV set in the middle-left of the plexiglass barrier. Using ingenious camera positioning, Jonathan Demme (the director) lets us, the audience, know that both the preacher and Lecter are now listening in the presence of an 'agent' sent by God himself.
