“It was tempting to get into Behavioral Science in any capacity she could, but she knew what happens to a woman if she’s ever pegged as a secretary—it sticks with them until the end of time.”

Clarice’s dream is to work in the Behavioral Science unit at the FBI, but she worries that being a woman will sideline her to office work rather than field work. Crawford’s special task sounds like office work to Clarice, but she accepts the job and is determined to make the most of it. A central theme of the book is gender bias in the workplace. Clarice is cognisant of how men negatively perceive her abilities.

“Nothing happened to me, Officer Starling. I happened. You can’t reduce me to a set of influences. You’ve given up good and evil for behaviorism, Officer Starling. You’ve got everybody in moral dignity pants—nothing is ever anybody’s fault.”

In Clarice’s first interview with Lecter, he refuses to fill out her questionnaire because he believes it is too simplistic. Lecter’s understanding of his inherent motivations conflict with the FBI’s profiling standards that look to categorize criminal behavior. Lecter’s disdain for the FBI’s methods solidifies throughout the book, and he tries to teach Clarice how to look beyond this restrictive viewpoint.

“I won’t deny anything you’ve said. But here’s a question you’re answering for me right now, whether you mean to or not: Are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? It’s hard to face.”

Lecter makes a show of guessing at Clarice’s upbringing and personality based on her appearance, which she painfully agrees is correct. She taunts Lecter back, saying he is too afraid to look deep within himself in the same way he looks at others because what he finds may contradict his perfectly calculated exterior. Clarice’s honesty and courage begins to interest Lecter, and he develops a fascination with her strength and deductive abilities.