I think you are reading into the meat locker but a to much personally. She had a will to live constantly trying to find away out. She fought for her life against the woman see killed and looked for away to make a connection with the chef. The others did not they only cared about themselves even chef says to the others if they had actually tired a little they would have gotten away.

I think so because Hannibal is a secondary character. So it is a different perspective than Red Dragon since they beefed up his part.