Capture-bonding and Abigail Hobbs
It's not the obvious scene where Will analyzes the behavior of the kidnapped children, but it actually describes the entire dynamic of Abigail Hobbs' relationship with Hannibal Lecter. Right after the Β«Capture-bondingΒ» scene of searching for patterns and investigating a series of crimes, we are shown this scene:
Β«You don't... You are breakfastΒ» β a subtle metaphorical hint (in the case of Hannibal it may not be metaphorical). He makes her breakfast, which was last made by Garrett Jacob Hobbs, in an attempt to ease her traumatic memories and associate them with something good (with himself). The scene seems like a sweet gesture of concern on Hannibal's part, but in reality it is a subtle psychological manipulation and reprogramming of Abigail's perception. He is the new master here now. He is a new father.
Abigail understands it. She's a smart, clever girl. She knows what Hannibal is like from the start, just look at these scenes:
The way she looks at him, the way she tests his reaction, initially recognizing the same voice that called them in the morning. Abigail knows Hannibal is a killer from the start. Hannibal knows that Abigail knows. And even though Hannibal easily tries to convince her otherwise, she still holds her opinion, but simply does not show it. She may have doubts, but at the very least she understands that Hannibal is not who he claims to be in public. And that makes him potentially dangerous. The viewer asks the question Β«Why?Β» Why does she stay by his side? Why, having fallen into the hands of a monster, does she not run away, does not sound the alarm, does not try to reduce their communication?
This is where the capture-bonding described by Will comes into play, which the screenwriter alludes to throughout the fourth episode. Besides the fact that Hannibal provides her with protection from Jack Crawford, there is something else that keeps her there. Abigail employs what are known as coping strategies. Coping strategies refer to the specific efforts, both behavioral and psychological, that people employ to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize stressful events.
For Abigail, who has been accustomed to the role of the daughter of a dangerous person since childhood, such behavior is something familiar, a means of survival. It was not a conscious choice; her mind, striving to survive, created an attachment to her father, Garret Jacob Hobbs, who effectively captured her. She clings to him because she understands that if she does not follow his demands (acting as bait for girls), she may become the next victim. Similarly, Abigail instinctively reaches out to Hannibal as a new Β«masterΒ», realizing that her life and safety depend on this connection. Abigail's psyche adapts once again, allowing her to maintain the appearance of a close relationship with Hannibal in order to survive. She feels that she can trust him because, in a way, he is just like her.
It is a paradox: a person becomes attached to their Β«captorΒ» in order to survive in a new, unfamiliar reality.
Hannibal did not subject Abigail to direct violence or physically coerce her. However, his actions indirectly determined her future by destroying her past life. Now, with the death of her father, Hannibal becomes her only point of support. This attachment is not something voluntary or rational; it is based on the hypothesis of an ancient survival mechanism, where the victim, in order to adapt, instinctively bonds with the one who now controls their life.
The hypothesis is that ancient humans, usually female, were commonly and often violently captured from one tribe by another. Those who had the psychological traits (posited to be a gene-based mechanisms) that led them to socially reorient after a few days (i.e., bond) to their captors survived to pass on the trait.
Abigail's further behavior and actions take on a logical wrapper and already proceed from this. She Β«...didn't know what she has to do, so she did what he told herΒ».
In this scene she looks like a robot that obeys any orders from her master; she is like a puppet. Therefore, she responds to Hannibal's call, even though deep down in her subconscious, she understands that this step is leading her to certain death.
I honestly admit that I never liked her as a character from the beginning. In fact, she irritated me, especially in the episode Β«MizumonoΒ» when she pushed Alana from the window. Overall, her behavior seemed obviously foolish to me. All of this happened because I didn't understand her. Even the worst characters evoked feelings of empathy in me or I just logically understood their motives. I recognized that Abigail was a victim. She was just a child. But couldnβt see her psychological portrait in detail. It wasn't until I rewatched the series and listened to Will's words that it became so obvious; I felt blind. Now I hope I have been able to shed a bit more light on her character. I know there are fans who also feel ambiguous or even negative emotions towards Abigail. This comes from a lack of understanding. It's important to realize that in such situations, a traumatic bond is formed, and the victim cannot leave voluntarily.
Thank you for your attention!
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