Perfume The Story Of A Murderer Quotes
"Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it." - Patrick Süskind, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is a novel by German author Patrick Süskind. It tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, an 18th-century Frenchman born with no body odor, but with an extraordinary sense of smell. Grenouille becomes a perfumer and eventually a murderer, driven by his obsession with capturing the perfect scent.
The novel has been adapted into a film and a play, both of which have gained popularity among fans of the original story. Here are some of the most memorable quotes from the book:
"He succeeded in being considered totally uninteresting. People left him alone. And that was all he wanted." - Chapter 1
Grenouille is a strange and solitary character, who is content to be ignored by others. His lack of scent makes him stand out, but also makes him an outsider.
"There was no doubt that Grenouille was the most gifted among them, the most lucid, the most visionary. And yet none of the others could bear to be near him." - Chapter 6
Grenouille's talent for creating scents is undeniable, but his lack of social skills and strange behavior make others uncomfortable.
"He was a genius, and he was in a position to do something with his genius, something useful to mankind. But he didn't feel like it. He didn't want to. He only wanted to do something useful to himself." - Chapter 7
Grenouille's obsession with creating the perfect scent is purely for his own satisfaction, rather than for any greater good.
"He did not know that he had given them love, and the gift of love is more important than a mountain of gold. They do not even know that someone had given them love." - Chapter 48
Grenouille's ability to create scents that evoke strong emotions in others is both his gift and his curse. He is able to make people love him, but only through the use of his perfumes.
"He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it himself: namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to obtain." - Chapter 50
Grenouille's manipulative nature is revealed as he uses his knowledge of human behavior to achieve his goals.
"He had noticed that events were cowards: they didn't occur singly, but instead they would run in packs and leap out at him all at once." - Chapter 54
Grenouille's paranoia and fear of being caught are evident throughout the book, as he constantly feels pursued by events and people.
"He was different, Grenouille. He was an abomination. And it was clear to everyone who saw him that he would never be able to change that." - Chapter 59
Grenouille's uniqueness is both his strength and his weakness. His inability to fit in with society makes him an outcast, but also gives him the freedom to pursue his own desires.
In conclusion, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that explores the power of scent and its effect on human behavior. The quotes listed here are just a small sample of the many memorable passages in the novel. Whether you're a fan of the book, the film, or the play, there's no denying the impact that this story has had on audiences around the world.