DB Reads Hannibal Rising Ch. 3
Summary:
Loyal Lecter servant Berndt is captured by the Nazis who have occupied Lecter castle, and is held prisoner. Grutas and his men prove their loyalty by ratting out Cook, a Jew, and executing him. Berndt is spared and promises to work at the castle for the Nazis. He moves furniture around the castle for them, but then is forgotten, and manages to slip away, stealing a radio in the process. He regrets leaving Cesar behind. Back at the hunting lodge, the family’s quiet evening is interrupted by a distraught Berndt’s return.
Vocab Words:
"Big Ilyushin bombers out of Russia pounded the columns through heavy flak from the anti-aircraft guns mounted on the trains." A Russian aircraft manufacturer and design bureau founded in 1933 by Sergey Vladimirovich Ilyushin. Here's a WWII model:
"A German Panzer tank jumped a ditch and came across the meadow, firing its coaxial machine gun into the trees, coming, coming."
Yes, the first thing you thought of was coaxial cable, but that's not how the word is being used here!
A coaxial weapon mount places two weapons on roughly the same axis – as the weapons are usually side-by-side or one on top of the other, and oriented in parallel directions – they are technically par-axial rather than coaxial, however, the distances involved mean that they are effectively coaxial as far as the shooter is concerned.
Notes:
Hitler’s Blitzkrieg - the "lightning war" of the Nazis, which included surprise attacks of sudden ferocity. However, I feel like Hannibal would want to point out that Hitler didn't call it that, and thought it was a stupid name. It also wasn't really a tactic or a method as much as "the result of German commanders using the latest technology in the most advantageous way, according to traditional military principles, and employing the right units in the right place at the right time" (Historian Karl Heintz Freiser). Always trying to break the Nazi mythology wherever possible.
The commander in charge of the Nazis who have occupied Lecter Castle part of the 3rd SS Panzer tank division. They were called "Totenkopf" or Death’s Head Division due to their skull and crossbones insignia. The commander in Hannibal Rising wears his on his hat. The Death's Head Division was fanatical and radicalized, and committed multiple war crimes, including the Chasselay Massacre, where they selectively murdered Black French prisoners of war. After the Battle of Dunkirk, 97 British soldiers surrendered to them, only to be marched out into a farm field and machine gunned down. I think Harris chose this particular division to invade Hannibal's ancestral home for a couple of reasons -- #1, they're the worst of the worst, and that's saying a lot when it comes to fucking Nazis, so anyone with any WWII knowledge understands immediately that the Lecters and their friends will receive no mercy whatsover, and #2. Death's Head calls to mind the Death's Head moths from The Silence of the Lambs extracted from Buffalo Bill's victims.
I like this DVD cover A LOT...
The Lecter Family Pennant: When the Nazis occupy the castle, they take down the Lecter family flag, which apparently depicts a Wild Boar. In the Hannibal TV show, we see the Lecter crest on the gate outside the castle before Will oh so gracefully scales it. It's got a snake for sure, but the rest of it is hard to make out. This is the clearest picture I could find.
You'd think the "rampant" beasts on either side (aka "supporters") are wolves, but let's be honest, medieval artists would be like, "of course I can draw a cat" and come up with this:
I think they might be panthers? This is literally what they thought panthers looked like:
I'm gonna chalk that up to "WHO THE FUCK KNOWS." I do think the figure at the top might be Posideon, since he's in a seashell. Seashells in Coat of Arms language mean love of travel, and that tracks with our globe-trotting cannibal, for sure!
But what about this boar pennant? In the heraldic sense, the most famous boar-related crests and coats of arms are from Scotland or Germany. Richard III's personal device was a white boar. However, I did find some Roman legions that used a boar as their insignia. No connections to the Sforzas or Milan, but the Legio XX Valeria Victrix. were Hadrian's guys, and seem to be associated with keeping Roman order in the wild places of Britan, which is basically the backdrop for the King Arthur movie where Mads and Hugh worked together for the first time. IT'S ALL CONNECTED!
Hifswillige or Hiwi -- German for auxiliary volunteer. These were locals and prisoners of war who "volunteered" to help the Nazis. Obviously, they were treated better and had a better chance of personal survival, especially in Russia, when Soviet POWs were purposely mistreated in captivity. The Germans trained Hiwis to assist with the "final solution" death camps and often had them do the dirty work. When Soviet Hiwis tried to repatriate after the war, they were sent to the gulags. Grutas and his men are trying to work with the Nazis for their own gain/survival, and Grutas proves himself by outing Cook as a Jew. He also sweet-talks the Nazi commander:
“Major, you wear the ring and the scars of Heidelberg. Here is military history, the kind you yourself are making. Here is the Ravenstone of Hannibal the Grim. Some of the most valiant Teutonic knights died here.”
The ring and scars comment may refer to the popularity of sword duelling amongst the social elite at the German and Austrian universities, one of which was in Heidelberg. Back then, sexy duelling scars to the face were considered a mark of bravery and made a man "good husband material." Maybe the ring was a Heidelberg University class ring?
Cook is murdered on something called Hannibal the Grim's Ravenstone. Sounds like something from a fantasy novel, and yes, we've got ravenstones and ravenstags. I did not know this, but apparently, a ravenstone is a place of execution, a gallows. So, as the beginning of chapter 1 says, the place where Hannibal the Grim addressed his captured Teutonic knights after the completion of his castle.
"Swallows started from the towers at the shot" that kills the cook. Get your minds out of the gutter! (that's the only time I'll ever say that). Swallows (the bird) are highly symbolic in multiple cultures and faiths, and I fully believe that Thomas Harris knew what he was doing by depciting the swallows who made their forever homes in the towers of Lecter castle fleeing in the wake of innocent bloodshed.
Symbolism Behind Swallows
Self-indulgent moment -- I just want to share a bunch of pictures of sailors with swallow tattoos.
The top one OMGGGGG I'm dying!!!
The following swallow breeds are native to Lithuania:
Bank Swallow -- riparia riparia
Barn Swallow -- hirundo rustica
Red-Rumpled Swallow -- cecropis daurica
So, what species of swallow live in Lithuania? Considering the barn swallow is the most widespread swallow species in the world with six subspecies, that's probably our winner. Typically, barn swallows nest in man-made structures, so they have followed and spread with mankind as we covered the earth. These birds build a cup nest of mud pellets and feed on insects caught in flight. It is the national bird of Estonia, which is close to Lithuania, who's national bird is the white stork, if you were wondering... all the Hannigram Mpreg people are now cheering LOL.
Barn swallows have always lived in close proximity with humans so there are frequent cultural references to them in many groups from all over the world, in the form of superstitions and religious and literary references.
Here's an excerpt from the Dictionary of Superstition by David Pickering, who compiled the Dictionary of Witchcraft:
"Superstition throughout Europe accords the swallow a special place, mostly identifying it as a bird of blessing and a herald of the summer. Christians claim that the swallow won favor by calling out 'Dead! Dead!' to the Roman soldiers at the crucifixion in an attempt to prevent them from inflicting further torture upon Christ. A Swedish version of the story has a swallow circling the crucified Christ and calling out 'Cheer up! Cheer up!' As a result, it is thought to be very unlucky to kill a swallow or to damage its nest (or even be holding one in your hand as it dies). Punishment for such reckless acts ranges from prolonged rainstorms to bloodied milk to death or some other extreme misfortune. Allowing the swallow to nest in the roof of a house guards the house from lightning, fire, and other evils. If it deserts its nest, ill luck will befall the household. A swallow flying into the house is a bringer of joy..."
In Russia, dead children take the form of swallows. Hmm... It's giving Mischa. In eastern England, they gather on a church roof at the turn of the new year to plot the parish deaths that will occur in the following months. In Scotland, it's thought that a swallow carries a drop of the Devil's blood (kinda sounds like Hannibal, tbh). If it plucks a hair out of your head in Ireland, you'll go to Hell without passing go or collecting 200$. If it lands on you, it is an omen of death.
In folk medicine in the British Isles, swallows are believed to have a small stone inside their bodies. If you find a red one, it can cure madness. If you find a black one, keep it for good luck. You can slip it under your tongue for added eloquence! All very Hannibal-coded.
Animal symbolism is often based on the biological behaviors of animals, so here are some swallow things that might add to them as a symbol in Hannibal Rising and Hannibal's character as we fannibals envision him:
Swallows will often nest in the same place year after year and return home to breed again and again. The tank scaring the swallows out of the tower of Lecter Castle symbolizes how the incoming violence is going to make Hannibal's ancestral "nesting grounds" inacessible to him forever. A place in the real world and the mind palace where he "cannot safely go."
They are capable of long-distance migration; swallows from England will show up in Africa. Hannibal is nomadic and travels far and wide searching for unique experiences... and flavors.
They have communal roosts and will nest in colonies -- Hannibal is looking for his people, in whatever way that might be. He desires society, even if he never lets any one person see him in his entirety (until Will). He doesn't want a Bluebeard's Wife who is not a murderer and either doesn't know or is willfully ignorant, and he doesn't want an unfeeling murderer like Tobias, because he would have to hide how deeply he feels and loves despite his compulsion to kill. Will is the only person he can be real with.
The males come to the breeding ground and select the site, and then invite the females to join them. So their desirability as mates has everything to do with the male finding a great home and being the "nester." HANNIBAL IS ABSOLUTELY A NESTER. Even in a prison cell!!!
They mob predators in a group, overpowering them, and the males will aggressively defend the nest. Some alpha/omega behavior right there.
They feed on flying insects, which people appreciate, since they're a form of pest control. In a way, Hannibal is a form of pest control when he eats the rude!
In heraldry, the swallow is interchangeable with the martin (a similar bird, often incorrectly thought to have no feet). Martins in crests represent younger sons of noblemen who have no lands. Hannibal might be the heir to his family's title, 8th in his line, but he had his lands taken.
And... my personal favorite...
Swallows mate for life, like swans and other birds. Super romantic, right? But here's the thing -- they will fuck any other swallow in the colony if they feel like it. They are what is called "genetically polygamous" while being "socially monogamous." Like, come on. OF COURSE, that's Hannigram!!! They'll never have any other soulmate than each other, but they are 100% down to swing and party. Turn that pineapple upside down and get Matthew Brown in there as your third, guys.
Swallows in Greek Mythology Swallows are associated with the character of Procene, the sister of Philomena. She was an Athenian princess married to Tereus, the king of Thrace. She missed her sister back in Athens and sent him to travel to pick her up and bring her back. While on the trip, Tereus develops a lustful obsession with Philomena and eventually takes her to a cabin in the woods to rape her. When she threatens to tell what he's done to her, the king cuts out her tongue and imprisons her in the wilderness.
Eventually, Procene finds out and frees her sister by sneaking to the cabin during a Thracian Dionysus festival, disguised in Bacchic attire. Back home, Philomena manages to tell Procene her story through sign language. Filled with rage, when the prince, Procene's son with Tereus, enters the room, Procene murders and cooks him. She feeds him to his father, who doesn't realize what he's eating. When he does, he screams for his son. In response, the sisters present the boy's head on a platter.
The king orders their execution, but the sisters turn into birds -- Philomena either becomes a silent swallow and Procene the singing nightengale, or vise versa. YES! SWALLOWS CAN BE TRACED THROUGH GREEK MYTHOLOGY TO CANNIBALISM. IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO CANNIBALISM!
Mischa’s bath in front of the fireplace, on the other hand, is so on the nose it feels like a slap in the face. “The bubbles, in their brief flight on the draft, reflected all the bright faces before they burst above the fire."
SORRY TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE....!
Foreshadowing much?
Lastly, chapter three ends with the beautifully and tragically described demise of a pair of mated black swans that used to call the moat at Lecter Castle their home. The male is hit with flak and falls to the ground, and his mate follows, trying to wake him. She is then approached by a tank and attempts to scare it off with her wingspan. The idea behind wingspan is intimidation, and the smaller swan will back down. The swan knows she’s too small, but she remains in place, guarding her fallen mate, until she is crushed by the tank, her sorrow overriding the natural instinct of self-preservation. But what this also means is that a tank, despite being enormous, cannot scare off one of these mythic Lecter black swans. But an 8-year-old Hannibal Lecter with sticks in his hands can. Is he more dangerous than a Panzer tank?
Sorry it's taken so long to continue this series of blog posts. I am making these into mini episodes and posting them on my Patreon, so if you're thinking "great post DB but would be better if you read them to me," head on over to Patreon and subscribe for a pittance -- 5$ a month.
Love,
DB Mars