Perfume+SATS

** Individuals/Society **
> “She only wanted the pain to stop, she wanted to put this revolting birth behind her as quickly as possible. It was her fifth. She had effected all the others here at the fish booth, and all had been stillbirths or semi-stillbirths, for the bloody meat had emerged had not differed greatly from the fish guys that lay there already, nor had been lived much longer, and by evening the whole mess had been shoveled away and carted off to the graveyard.” (p5)  > “I don’t want any money, period,” “I want this bastard out of my house” (p10)  > “She showed no preference for any one of the children entrusted to her nor discriminated against any of them.” (p4)  > > Pg. 109 - Baldini reassures himself that “reaping the profits of this risky adventure” is forgivable and God is favoring him; however, on the following page Baldini perishes in the “sudden” collapse of his building. Suskindd mocks his ridiculous assumptions and his abilities as a perfumer. The disappearance of the little books that contained six hundred formulas mocks the inexistence of Baldini as a great perfumer since the source to his success was Grenouille. The only thing that remained was the catastrophic blend of senses that existed in Baldini’s perfume shop, that did belong to Baldini, but didn’t bring success.  > > Pg. 111 – Chenier “sacrified thirty long years” in hopes of inheriting Baldini’s possessions; however, Baldini’s death mocks Chenier for acting as though he believed in Baldini and refusing to pursue his dream. Suskindd mentions the lost will to emphasize Chenier’s regret of what could have been. > > Pg. 140 - Marquis T.E's Fluidum Letale was supposedly dangerous toxins that people received from staying too close to the ground and eating things produced from the ground. Mocking the false sciences of that time and peoples redainess to believe in anything no matter how crazy they sounded because of their ignorance. > Scientists used/manipulated evidence to suit their theories and jumped to conclusions.  >  > Suskind also mocks Grenouille and his action when he pours the whole bottle of the perfume on himself which lead him to be eaten by cannibals. Suskind mocks Grenouille by having Grenouille’s death right after pouring the bottle of perfume all over him which Grenouille spent so much time in making the perfume. Suskind might have done this to illustrate that Grenouille does this to show that Grenouille is just as pitiful. >  > - Suskindd describes the father-daughter relationship between Richis and Laure in a very strange way. When one thinks of family there is generally an idea of happiness and innocence. However in this case, Richis's attraction to his daughter is very strange and even somewhat sexual. In this case, Suskindd seems to be criticizing basic family values. > > - When Grenouille is brought out to the public of Grasse no one believes he could be the killer because of how ordinary he looks. It is not until he leaves that the people of Grasse come to the realization that he killed all those women. Suskindd may be showing how humans base all their thoughts purely on appearance. This is further emphasized when Suskindd shows how the simple fragrance of a perfume can drive people mad. >  > >
 * Through the females of the book, the author is able to use the female to satirize the idea of females often seen to represent love and care. The females in the first few chapters are seen to lack the love for Grenouille and other values, where in reality females are often seen to be passionate and caring to represents love.
 * "....it would necessarily be at the expense of the other children or, **//<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">worse, //**//<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> at her own expense //..."(29). Madame Gaillard is greatly mocked w/ the word "worse" when comparing herself with the children. She kept half of the money she made, and the other half is for all the children, and still she would take out extra money from the children's half is necessary--- if she had to take out money from her half, then it's even worse! With this word Suskind successfully made a very sarcastic point, mocking Madame Gaillard's money-consciousness and her selfishness <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">*Page reference unsure - Through Baldini, the author makes fun of conservatists, and the idea of "old" and its rules being unable to keep up with "new" and its creations. Baldini criticizes Pelissier for breaking the rules to perfume making, yet we observe that Baldini is nowhere as brilliant as Pelissier. He can only copy, while his rival creates. This opposition seems to reflect even modern views: tradition is mocked as it only teaches people to master given ideas - master a piece composed by a famous composer, learn all the scientific theories; new teaches people to innovate, search for new possibilities, invent, search, discover. Baldini is therefore the one being mocked in the relation.
 * <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Pg 91 “after a while he even came to believe that he made a not insignificant contribution to the success of these sublime scents.” Baldini who criticized the other perfumer for not adhering to traditions is being hypocritical by riding the genius of Grenouille to fortune and fame and has become what he despised.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Pg. 109 – After Grenouille departs, Baldini admits his discomfort with Grenouille and that “he had never liked the fellow”. Instead of gratifying him for his success he forbids Grenouille from returning to Paris until his death; however, right after Grenouille leaves, Baldini dies. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Pg. 146 - When Grenouille feigns his physical weakness, the marquis "literally begged him" not to die until the day after tomorrow when he could present his theory. This incident also occurs with Baldini earlier in the novel when Grenouille falls sick and Baldini wants him to get better only so he can use him for his own advantage. The similar situation between Baldini and the marquis emphasizes the shallowness of people that use others only so they can gain something from it. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">(Throughout the 10 chapters)- How easily people can deceived by something so easily made (the human odor perfume). Satirizing how ignorant and foolish people are, and how easily they trust or believe something, even if it is false. This mocking tone is particularly shown during the presentation of the fluidum vitale theory when even the most prominent and well-respected scientists are fooled into believing something that was not actually verified with solid proof.
 * <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Suskind also mocks people in general and how they come to analyze others by appearances. Suskind mocks the people when the people of Grasse could not believe that Grenouille was the killer when he was caught because he just didn’t look like a murderer. “Not a soul could comprehend how this short, paltry, stoop-shouldered man there at the window- this mediocrity, this miserable nonentity, and this cipher- could have committed more than two dozen murders. He simply did not look like a murderer.” (p227)
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"Baldini believed that the “golden, blood-red mirage of the city” (65) was a warning from God, urging him to sell his slumping business before it is too late. Baldini’s stubbornness towards religious beliefs led him to portray ordinary happenings as omens. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
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 * <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"And once again Baldini misread Grenouille's outrageous self-confidence as boyish awkwardness." (71) Baldini sees Grenouille as an innocent kid and he doesent recognise the intensity of Grenouille. The author may use Baldini to make fun of Society inability to recognise bad people in their midst and allowing them into our lives because we are trusting.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"It's of no consepuence at all to me in any case." "I certainly would not take my inspiration from him.As you know, I create my own perfumes." "I alone give birth to them." (49) Baldini keeps saying that he himself produces the perfumes, however by constantly repeating he showed his guilt. Next thing we know he was attempting to dissect the perfume --"you must have the formula by this evening!" (62) It is quite interesting how Baldini does the mere opposite of what he has said- to not take inspirations from Pelissier, and dissects the perfume created by Pelissier. Through this Baldini is further mocked. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">

<span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> ** Authority/Nobility/People in Power **
<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">".....although the king had ascended his throne more htan thirty-eight years before and the high point of his popularity was long since behind him. Fireworks can do that."(40) Another quite remarkable satire. The king is old, but still people cheer for him, not for he himself but for the fireworks he had set off. Through this Suskind mocks the ruler and those that has the power
 * <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Pg. 198 - The power, authority and the actual spiriual power of the Church and the clergymen are being mocked when the bishop excommunicates Grenouille. After the excommunication the killings stop and the people rejoice, however it is not because of the excommunications that the killings have stopped but rather because Grenouille had only one remaining target whose murder had to be planned out perfectly.
 * <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Pg 56 “The king himself had had them demonstrate some sort of newfangled nonsense, a kind of artificial thunderstorm they call electricity.” Baldini represents society resisting change such as electricity which would be a important part of the development of the modern world

> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“Away with it! Thought Terrier, away this very instant wit this… he was about to say “devil” but caught himself and refrained.” (p18) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> > <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">“Impossible! It is absolutely impossible for an infant to be possessed by the devil. An infant is not yet a human being; it is a prehuman being and does not possess a fully developed soul.” (p10) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">In the first few chapters, Suskin is able to mock Father Terrier through his conversations and actions. In the beginning Father Terrier is seen to be very accepting with Grenouille and denies that Grenouille is possessed by the devil when he is talking to the Nurse. But after he spends some time with Grenouille his emotion towards Grenouille changes and he wants to get rid of him as soon as possible. As a father of god, Terrier is suppose to be accepting and accommodating with Grenouille but instead he sees him as a monster. <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Religion is also mocked in this chapter when Father Terrier points out the reasons to which Grenouille could not possibly be the devil. His reasoning led him to believe that the devil would not be stupid enough to let a wetnurse discover him and secondly that "the human odor is a sinful odor. How could an infant, which does not yet know sin even in its dreams, have an odor? How could it smell? Poohpeedooh - not a chance of it!" By stating these two comletely ridiculous theories about why a child does not smell, Suskind is mocking the aspects of many religions that don't have a good and plausible explanation to it. (16) <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
 * <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- It has often been said that Grenouille's final scene resembles that of the crucifixion of Jesus. I believe this is true to a certain extent, however I think that this scene serves not to reflect the crucifixion but rather to mock it. Suskindd makes the scene very chaotic and disturbing as if to show that religion is twisted.
 * <span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Smelling the Amor and Psyche created by Grenouille, Baldini praises the perfume by murmuring softly to himself “Incredible… by God – incredible” (83). Despite viewing the whole creation process exhibited by Grenouille, Baldini ultimately identified the creation of the perfume as a creation by God, revealing his stubborn religious mind

** Scientific Method **
<span style="font-size: 11pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Pg. 141- Mocking scientific discoveries--making a theory with no solid evidence. The marquis already has formed a hypothesis, and when Grenouille comes in town, it is all out of convenience that he uses him as "evidence" to prove his theory correct.