i'm going to make an argument here that might be a little weird (and might have already been made by another commenter): Hannibal is not playing with Will just to play with him (as God plays with Job). He is actually pursuing an extreme method to cure Will of his existential problems. He is fulfilling Will's greatest…

Sorry if this is in here already… the Elk is Hannibal. It's Will's awareness of Hannibal. Hannibal is looking for a friend and so is Will. In Hannibal, he's found a kindred spirit so his subconscious subverts his instincts (the alarms that he is in the presence of a killer). Let's not forget that when Will does what…