HANNIGRAM WAS THE PLAN FROM THE WORD GO:
The video link above is from the film version of Hannibal (a Dino De Laurentiis production, as is the NBC show Hannibal). This scene is where the *gorgeous* aria by Patrick Cassidy- which was written specifically for the Hannibal film- is performed.
The lyrics are from Dante’s La Vita Nuova, Chapter 3 of Sonnet “A ciascun'alma presa.” This is also the SAME sonnet Hannibal recounts to the Florentines in the beginning of S3. La Vita Nuova is an absolutely beautiful love story about Dante’s passionate and reverent love for Beatrice, and it uses the heart as the potent, burning symbol for love- the heart also plays a vital role in the show.
The aria, in the NBC version of Hannibal, was used in this scene:
Hannibal conjures this aria in his mind as he’s on his way to see Will. This was intentional, and made a very specific connection between the love story of Beatice and Dante to Hannibal and Will.
But, even CRAZIER, when you watch the Hannibal film scene linked above, you’ll notice some very familiar dialogue happen towards the end of the scene between Hannibal (who is posing as Dr. Fell) and Allegra Pazzi, as they discuss the love story of Beatrice and Dante. They are specifically discussing the lyrics to Vide Cor Meum:
Allegra Pazzi: “Dr. Fell, do you believe a man could become so obsessed with a woman from a single encounter?”
Hannibal: “Could he daily feel a stab of hunger for her, and find nourishment in the very sight of her? I think so. But would she see through the bars of his plight, and ache for him?”
That’s the exact same thing Bedelia tells Will in S3:
And YES, yes he does ache for him. The original line from the film uses the words “could she see through the bars of his plight,” alluding to bars of a prison cell. When this scene immediately switches to Hannibal in his cell, that connection is made clear:
The lyrics to the aria, Vide Cor Meum, are:
And of this burning heart,
I saw him then depart from me,
Joy is converted to bitterest tears,
The specific lyrics that play over the scene of Hannibal visiting Will in the asylum are:
“And thinking of her, sweet sleep overcame me…” (this is where Hannibal closes his eyes before he walks to Will’s cell):
“I am your master…Here’s my heart:”
How UNBELIEVABLY GORGEOUS is that?! The showrunners KNEW what they were doing, and they KNEW Hannigram was going to be canon from the word go. There’s no other way to interpret all that. They knew. And all the fans who saw this? Guess what: YOU WERE RIGHT.
They knew they were going to make these two canon. This show is amazing, a true work of art. How symbolism is used is reminiscent of paintings in the Renaissance and Medieval Eras.
And if that’s not enough, check THIS out:
That S2 finale that had everyone sobbing and clawing at their screens? (Myself included.) Also uses the music from Vide Cor Meum. The composer for Hannibal, Brian Reitzell, blended the music from what is arguably Will and Hannibal’s song “Bach’s Aria Da Capo from the Goldberg Variations,” (Hannibal’s love for this composition is a nod to canon) with the music from Vide Cor Meum. And it results in some of the most *SUBLIME* music I’ve heard in ages.
(as a side note, I’ve never been more grateful for my education in music than I have been while analyzing this show)
The amount of love and work and research that went into the love story of Hannibal and Will is astounding. They used the long standing tradition of gay subtext, blended it with the medieval/Renaissance style of symbolism, reused canon love stories for Will and Hannibal, and updated it for modern audiences.
HANNIGRAM WAS THE PLAN FROM THE START.
It’s an astounding achievment. And this is, like, the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the layers in this show.
Hannibal showrunners and cast: ***You all are my fucking heroes.***
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