Is Hannibal Lecter Based on a Real Person? If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, then you must have seen the most daunting horror movie Hannibal, and like many other viewers, you also wish to know Hannibal’s connection with any real-life scenario, right?
Hannibal Lecter is one of the most popular characters in the horror and psychological genre. The character became the subject of many novels and movies. These novels and movies share his life experiences and the crimes committed by him.
Hannibal Lecter is not based on any real person but just a fictional character created by the novelist Thomas Harris. However, the writer was inspired by a real-life person whom he met in jail. Already feeling the chills? Be ready for more!!
Is Hannibal Lecter Based On A Real Person?
Hannibal Lecter is a fictional character that was inspired by a doctor who killed his boyfriend. The character is created by a novelist named Thomas Harris who met Doctor Alfredo Ballí Treviño in a prison when he was writing a story on another prisoner.
The writer of the novel confirmed that he took inspiration for his character of Hannibal from a real Surgeon who used to eat the flesh of humans. The character became so popular that it became the subject of other works centered around the same character, Hannibal Rising and The Silence of the Lamb.
What Inspired The Character Of Hannibal Lecter?
The writer of the novel and the creator of the character Hannibal Lecter was inspired by many psychological crime stories. The name of the character Hannibal is also inspired by the word Cannibal, which means a person who eats human flesh.
When Thomas Harris went to prison to interrogate a prisoner on whom he was writing a story, he met Alfredo Ballí Treviño there. Thomas thought he was a prison doctor but later he found out that he was a criminal. He was very amazed and impressed by him which made him create a character similar to him.
What Happened To Hannibal Lecter In Real Life?
Alfredo Ballí Treviño is the real person behind the character of Hannibal. He was a very respected and experienced doctor from Mexico. He was in a relationship with a man named Jesús Castillo Rangel.
In a heated argument between the couple, Alfredo killed him. He sliced the body into small pieces and tried to bury it. He was caught up and sentenced to death for the crime. However, his death sentence was changed to 20 years and he was released after the allotted period. He was diagnosed with cancer in his old age and died due to the disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Was The Cause Of Death Of Alfredo Balli Trevino?
After spending 20 years in prison, Alfredo was released and he died at the age of 81 due to Cancer.
Does Hannibal Eat Humans?
Yes, Hannibal is a psychological killer who would cool a meal of his victims’ flesh and eat it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hannibal Lecter is one of the creepiest and most disturbing characters in horror stories. The character is not directly based on a real person but the writer took inspiration from a real criminal doctor named Alfredo Ballí Treviño.