Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon, Shows that past trauma can lead to tough choices being made in order to move on and maintain a healthy trusting relationship. This is demonstrated by Francis’ experience with Reba and Will’s past relationship with Hannibal. The antagonist, Francis Dolarhyde, falls in love with someone, Reba McClane, after years of distrusting anyone. This makes him want to make A change for her. He wants to stop killing, and he must start his change by killing the dragon inside him, “He did not want to give Reba Mclane to the Dragon. He thought about what the dragon would do to him if he didn't serve her up… How could he keep from giving her to the dragon? One way kept nudging him,” (Harris, 364-365). He now shows shame and …show more content…
When he makes the choice to talk to Hannibal, He tries to make attempts to move past the trauma but still is struggling as the doctor keeps asking questions about the past with Hannibal, “ ‘The consensus around here is that the only person who has demonstrated any practical understanding of Lecter is you, Mr. Graham. Can you tell me anything about him?’ ‘No,’ ‘some of the staff are curious about this: when you saw Dr. Lecter’s murders, their ‘style,’ so to speak, were you able perhaps to reconstruct his fantasies? And did that help you identify him?’ Graham did not answer… Dr. Chliton had seen a lot of hostility. He was seeing some at the moment. Graham stood up. ‘Thank you, doctor. I want to see Lecter now,’” (Harris, 78-79). Will wants to move past the trauma so he can form a professional relationship with Hannibal. Despite the continued disputing between Hannibal and Will, they still try to not bring up the past. Even with Lecters threats and anecdotes, he tries to make it seem like they have a good relationship, Hannibal even tells Graham that they are very much alike. Will needs to only think of the present and not dwell on past instances to move on and accept that Hannibal won’t change, but he can. This is in order to help form a better