Perfume The Story Of A Murderer Book Summary
Introduction
Perfume The Story Of A Murderer is a novel written by Patrick Süskind. The novel was first published in 1985 and became an instant hit. The novel is set in 18th-century France and tells the story of a man named Jean-Baptiste Grenouille who is born with an exceptional sense of smell. The novel explores the themes of obsession, power, and the human condition.
Plot Summary
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born in a fish market in Paris. He is abandoned by his mother and grows up in an orphanage. Grenouille has an extraordinary sense of smell and becomes obsessed with capturing scents. He becomes an apprentice to a perfumer and learns the art of making perfumes. Grenouille becomes obsessed with capturing the scent of beautiful women and begins to kill them to extract their scent. He becomes the most famous perfumer in Paris and creates a perfume that makes people love him. He is eventually caught and executed for his crimes.
Characters
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is the protagonist of the novel. He is born with an extraordinary sense of smell and becomes obsessed with capturing scents. He becomes a serial killer to extract the scent of beautiful women.
Madame Gaillard is the owner of the orphanage where Grenouille grows up. She is a cruel and abusive woman.
Giuseppe Baldini is a perfumer who takes Grenouille as his apprentice. He is a vain and greedy man who sees Grenouille as a means to his own success.
Laura Richis is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant. Grenouille becomes obsessed with capturing her scent and kills her to extract it.
Themes
Obsession is a major theme in the novel. Grenouille becomes obsessed with capturing scents and is willing to kill to achieve his goal.
Power is another major theme in the novel. Grenouille gains power through his ability to create perfumes that make people love him.
The novel also explores the human condition. Grenouille is a complex character who is both a victim of circumstance and a ruthless killer.
Style and Structure
The novel is written in a lyrical and descriptive style. Süskind uses vivid imagery to describe scents and create a sense of atmosphere. The novel is divided into four parts and each part is further divided into chapters.
Critical Reception
Perfume The Story Of A Murderer has received critical acclaim and is considered a modern classic. The novel has been translated into numerous languages and has sold millions of copies worldwide.
Adaptations
The novel has been adapted into a film of the same name directed by Tom Tykwer. The film stars Ben Whishaw as Grenouille and was released in 2006. The film received mixed reviews but was praised for its cinematography and production design.
Conclusion
Perfume The Story Of A Murderer is a gripping and disturbing novel that explores the themes of obsession, power, and the human condition. The novel has received critical acclaim and is considered a modern classic. The novel has been adapted into a film that was praised for its cinematography and production design.