Perfume The Story Of A Murderer Book Review
"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" is a novel written by Patrick Süskind. This book was published in 1985 and became widely popular all around the world. The book is a story of a young man named Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who was born in the slums of Paris in the 18th century. Grenouille was born with a unique ability to identify and create different scents, which eventually leads him to become a murderer.
Plot Summary
The story begins with the birth of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. His mother gives birth to him behind a fish stall in the middle of a busy market in Paris. She abandons him, and he is left to die. However, he survives and is eventually taken in by a woman who runs a home for orphaned children.
As Grenouille grows up, he realizes that he has a unique ability to identify and create different scents. He becomes obsessed with capturing the essence of different scents, and eventually becomes a perfumer's apprentice. However, he soon realizes that the scents he creates are not enough to satisfy his obsession.
Grenouille begins to murder young women in order to obtain their scent. He uses their body parts to create the perfect scent, which he believes will make him the greatest perfumer of all time. However, he is eventually caught and sentenced to death for his crimes.
Character Analysis
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is the main character of the book. He is a complex character who is both fascinating and disturbing. Grenouille is born with a unique ability to identify and create different scents, but he is also a sociopath who becomes a murderer in order to satisfy his obsession.
The other characters in the book are not as well-developed as Grenouille. However, they serve as a backdrop to Grenouille's story and help to highlight his unusual behavior and obsession with scents.
Themes
The book explores several themes, including obsession, power, and identity. Grenouille's obsession with scents drives him to commit murder and to create the perfect scent. He believes that this will give him the ultimate power and make him the greatest perfumer of all time. However, his obsession ultimately leads to his downfall.
The book also explores the theme of identity. Grenouille is a man who has no identity of his own. He is not loved or cared for by anyone, and he is constantly searching for a way to define himself. He believes that creating the perfect scent will give him an identity and make him a part of society.
Writing Style
The writing style of the book is gripping and intense. The author uses vivid descriptions of scents to create a sensory experience for the reader. The book is also filled with dark and disturbing imagery, which adds to the overall atmosphere of the story.
The book is well-written and engaging, and the author does an excellent job of creating a unique and memorable character in Jean-Baptiste Grenouille.
Conclusion
"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" is a fascinating and disturbing book that explores themes of obsession, power, and identity. The main character, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, is a complex and memorable character who is both fascinating and disturbing. The book is well-written and engaging, and the author does an excellent job of creating a unique and memorable character in Grenouille. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys dark and intense stories.