In the horror fictional novel Perfume, Patrick Süskind reflects the Christian relationship between the father and son and humans through aquatic imagery portraying Grenouille's godlike qualities. Perfume takes place in France during the mid-18th century and the Seven Years War. The novel begins with Grenouille's birth in a fish market in dirty, unsanitary Paris, where he also learns the art of tannery and perfuming. In Paris, He smells the ocean for the first time. However, his inability to travel to the ocean exposes his true desire ot obtain more than he has. He then goes off to an isolated mountain in southern France, where he lives in isolation using his nose to survive. His isolation in the mountain suggests that Grenouille desires to
…show more content…
Süskind utilizes the color blue specifically to describe Grenouille. Blue symbolizes faith, intelligence, and freedom. Blue brings peace, believed to keep bad spirits away, and considered a religious color. Süskind comments, “They all regarded the man in the blue frock coat as most handsome, attractive, and perfect creature they could imagine” (3313). The town’s folk perceive Grenouille as godlike since his scent influences the people he encounters to admire him. The amazement the town’s people feels for him provokes a sadness that covers Grenouille when he realizes the greater difference between him and them. Additionally, his posture demonstrates his desire to disconnect from humanity. At the mountain, Grenouille rolled “…its blue-gray body up into a ball [offering] the least possible surface to the world” (360). His escape into the mountain reflects his desire to isolate himself similar to people that yearn to obtain a stronger relationship with God and isolate themselves from civilization. Grenouille’s adventure in the mountain calms his soul. Moreover, when Süskind describes Grenouille’s experience in the orphanage, Madame Gaillard finds that Grenouille “…was crumpled and squashed and blue, but not dead” (371). Grenouille’s position suggests that he does not belong in the world and the constant survival from near death experiences indicates the abnormality. However, the numerous attempted killings on Grenouille seem to impact him little because the importance of achieving his goal of knowing all scents seemed more important to him. The blue descriptions of Grenouille’s postures in the novel influence the audience and town’s folk to further believe in the similarities between God/Jesus and
Süskind utilizes the color blue specifically to describe Grenouille. Blue symbolizes faith, intelligence, and freedom. Blue brings peace, believed to keep bad spirits away, and considered a religious color. Süskind comments, “They all regarded the man in the blue frock coat as most handsome, attractive, and perfect creature they could imagine” (3313). The town’s folk perceive Grenouille as godlike since his scent influences the people he encounters to admire him. The amazement the town’s people feels for him provokes a sadness that covers Grenouille when he realizes the greater difference between him and them. Additionally, his posture demonstrates his desire to disconnect from humanity. At the mountain, Grenouille rolled “…its blue-gray body up into a ball [offering] the least possible surface to the world” (360). His escape into the mountain reflects his desire to isolate himself similar to people that yearn to obtain a stronger relationship with God and isolate themselves from civilization. Grenouille’s adventure in the mountain calms his soul. Moreover, when Süskind describes Grenouille’s experience in the orphanage, Madame Gaillard finds that Grenouille “…was crumpled and squashed and blue, but not dead” (371). Grenouille’s position suggests that he does not belong in the world and the constant survival from near death experiences indicates the abnormality. However, the numerous attempted killings on Grenouille seem to impact him little because the importance of achieving his goal of knowing all scents seemed more important to him. The blue descriptions of Grenouille’s postures in the novel influence the audience and town’s folk to further believe in the similarities between God/Jesus and