What Is The Symbolism In Hannibal

Hannibal uses symbols to give the series a deeper more complex meaning. The first symbol we are introduced to is the orange line flashing across the screen as Will prepares himself to enter the mind of the murderer. The orange line represents a shift in mind for Will. He is no longer a detective, instead a killer. In addition, the orange line can represent the thin line separating good and evil, as all that separates morally good Will and a killer is that thin line.
A frequently used, reoccurring symbol is the stag. This ambiguous symbol has many meanings and can therefore be used to highlight different things in different scenes. Firstly, a stag can represent anything from carefulness and re-birth to masculinity and strength. The stag can …show more content…
For this series, I would suggest that the theme is good versus bad and the thin line separating these two. Good and bad moral is present from the beginning. What I find special about Hannibal is that good and bad are not portrayed as two opposite boxes, instead a spectrum ranging from white to black with shades of grey in between. This is a much more realistic portrayal of the world than in other series. Too many static characters fall into a single box. Either you are good or you are bad, there is no in between. Hannibal tries to challenge this point of view. By introducing shades of grey, they manage to convey the complexity of human nature. Just as real people are not good or bad, characters are not good or bad. Everyone has both in them. This causes good characters to occasionally make bad choices, while bad characters might do good deeds every now and then. By having dynamic characters that challenge the standard view of good and bad one gets a better look on what life is really like. I believe the message conveyed is that human nature is too complex to be placed into simple boxes. A realistic portrayal of human nature opens up for a more realistic …show more content…
In my opinion Hannibal has a strong plot and enough surprises to make it interesting. In addition, I believe the actors did a splendid job portraying the character. I especially like the dynamic between Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen. They are two very different actors with different ways to act and they complement each other well. The use of camera movement, colours and symbolism all combine perfectly to create a deep series. Bryan Fuller has managed to communicate the theme well and he uses so many different ways to communicate it. One has to pay attention and read between the lines, but I still believe most people will find the theme if they know where to