Book Review:
Red Dragon
Thomas Harris
© 1981
Greetings to all,
It seems that there is an unending curiosity with the human nature that tends to focus on the evil side more often than not. From the greatest philosophers to the everyday you and I, it seems this fascination will never end. We have numerous ways in which to challenge the mind to perhaps find another understanding of the sense of evil so many deem horrible and hideous. What seems unthinkable should immediately be re thought and looked at in another direction, and that is what this book will show to you. It will give you another look into things that are unspeakably hideous to many, but yet to few seem like nothing out of the ordinary. It is not say however, that by thinking in another direction it is then thought to no longer be wrong or right, it is rather that we have opened our way of thinking to begin to perhaps understand why things like this have happened; from what perspective they were actually thought from beginning. This in itself will lead to a greater understanding of all things in life.
Red Dragon was first published in 1981. Little did we know then that this particular book, and the two to subsequently follow, would be such a great part of our entertainment lives as they are today both in written and visual fashion. The intricate thought to which our writer leads is one that is not always achievable, nor as enthralling as this one is. We are taken into the very lives of Dr. Hannibal Lechter and Will Graham. Here we have two sides of the same battleĀ .human nature taking over. One side is giving into the side of the evil so many see as hideous and the other is trying to be the hero and stop it. What is interesting is that both have to think alike to outwit the other, and yet give each other a way in at the same time. We are given a slower and more microscopic look at the brutality of the events themselves; the inside looking out of the nature of the crime from within the very mind of the antagonist himself. Many think him a creature, some animal that is preying on seemingly innocent souls for no reason, but there is always a reason.
The details are what to look at. What every little piece of the picture looks like and seems like has to be surrounded on all sides and the life of the one looking must be completely engulfed in order to put the pieces in the right places together. When one looks at things as such, there is no avoiding their very own nature then changing even if in some very small way, no matter how hideous it may see. This is something we all have had an opportunity to think about at one time in life while watching or reading something that is seen as hideous and horrible. This story line is one that does not follow all normal "good guy, bad guy" story lines as the many that we have looked over in the past. This one takes us down a path on the inside rather than just the outside looking as the big picture. From the forensics details, to the outright mindful thoughts of the Dr. you will be sure to not put the book down for one minute for you may lose your way in the mind of the evil side of human nature itself.I do hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Written By:
Moonslight