Innocence In Patrick Süskind's Perfume

In Patrick Süskind’s 19th century novel Perfume, the author gives the protagonist the opportunity of enslaving the world. because Grenouille decides against enslaving the world the author proves Grenouille’s humanity and therefore also his innocence. To establish what exactly the term innocence means in terms of context and if it applies to Grenouille, one must decide whether or not Grenouille is condemned of killing the 26 virgins. In the novel, the author purposefully lets Grenouille escape punishment to then be able to give him the option of continuing to misuse his power. “There was enough left to enslave the whole world.” (page 259) with the perfume, the author purposefully left Grenouille enough perfume so that he could then have the choice. By giving Grenouille this choice but Grenouille deciding against it, the author shows- or rather proves his humanity.

On one hand, Grenouille cannot be innocent and is far from humane because he is responsible for murdering innocent girls for his own pleasure. The author also shows that he is guilty of this because after Grenouille murders the first girl, right after he says “he could no longer recall how the girl from the rue des Marais had

Grenouille “possessed a power stronger than the power of money, or terror, or death – the invincible power to command the love of mankind” but he had achieved his life’s goal and never wanted to use the perfume- just create it. At this point in the story Grenouille holds the power of doing whatever he wants to with the world in his hands and realizes he has completed what he wanted to achieve “So, to hell with it he thought. To hell with the world. With the perfume. With himself.” after which he committed