Allusions To Characterize Grenouille In Perfume

In the novel, Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer, by Patrick Suskind, Suskind uses biblical allusions to characterize Grenouille as a godly figure to develop the theme of corruption within the church in France using social commentary. When Father Terrier is talking to Grenouille, the narrator says, “‘The fool sees with his nose’ rather than his eyes, they say, and apparently the light of God-given reason would have to shine yet another thousand years before the last remnants of such primitive beliefs were banished” (15). The “God-given” gift that Grenouille receives shows that Grenouille is special for having this ability. During the time of this novel the church is still in control of the state. This occurs for one thousand years, starting in

The narrator suggesting that these beliefs being “primitive” shows that Suskind believes that the church is corrupt during this time in France. Later in the novel, after Grenouille is taken in the narrator talks of this, “There they baptized him with the name Jean-Baptiste. And because on that day the prior was in a good mood and eleemosynary fund not yet exhausted, they did not have the child shipped to Rouen, but instead pampered him at the cloisters expense” (7). The name “Jean” in hebrew meaning gift from God uncovers how Grenouille is above humanity and like a greater being. “At the cloisters expense” shows that even though the church has the money to care for Grenouille, the people of the church decide to be greedy. The diction of “at the cloisters expense” shows that the church is exploiting the people within their power because the church has the power to do so. Suskind did this to show his opinion on the corruption of the church in France. Later, after Grenouille is caught, “Grenouille received the verdict without emotion. The bailiff asked him if he had a last wish ‘No, nothing,’ Grenouille said; he had everything he