Order+vs+disorder

In __Perfume: the Story of a Murderer__ by Patrick Suskind, the author uses the contrast between order and disorder in society and within Grenouille to show the extent of Grenouille’s obsession and also his role in the novel: to cause conflict in society through his actions in attempting to achieve his ambition.

__Disorder – Internal__ “He had pumped not a single drop of a real and fragrant essence, had been unable to realize a single atom of his olfactory preoccupations.” (100)
 * 1. The struggle inside Grenouille reflects the extent of his obsessive character.**

“When it finally became clear to him that he had failed, he halted his experiments and fell mortally ill.” (100)

“Grenouille’s body was strewn with reddish blisters. Many of them popped open releasing their watery contents, only to fill up again…spewing viscous pus and blood streaked with yellow.” (100)
 * This shows his obsession in trying to find the perfect scent. Initially unaware of other ways to extract scent, Grenouille becomes sick when he finds out that distillation does not work on everything. His entire body seems as if it is starting to disintegrate when he believes that it is impossible to extract and preserve scent from certain things and that it is impossible for him to obtain the perfect scent.

__Order – Internal__ “Grenouille was, however, anything but dead. He was only sleeping very soundly, deep in his dreams, sucking fluids back into himself…Within a week he was well again.” (105)
 * 2. Grenouille’s inner calmness and peace is related to his obsession of scent.**
 * When Baldini tells Grenouille there are many other ways to extract and preserve scent that can be learnt to the south of Paris, Grenouille becomes healthy within only a week. Just by knowing there is still a tiny bit of hope, Grenouille continues to work toward his ambition.

“Dear little Jean-Baptiste…lying on his simple, cozy sofa in his purple salon.” (128)

“All of his nervousness, all of his doubt and insecurity, fell away from him, and he was filled with glorious contentment.” (129)
 * When Grenouille goes to the cave and to his imaginary purple castle, he dreams about drinking the scent from the first girl he murdered in Paris. The only things that satisfy him are nice scents, which were the only things that kept him in his cave for seven years.

__Disorder – Society__ “And now fear spread over the countryside…People were outraged and reviled the authorities. The least rumor caused mob scenes. A traveling salesman of love potions and other nostrums was almost massacred, for word spread that one of his ingredients in his remedies was female hair.” (196 – 197)
 * 3. Causing disorder in society is Grenouille’s role in the novel, whether he does this intentionally or not. **

“Fires were set at both the Cabris mansion and the Hopital de la Charite.” (197) “A servant returning home one night was shot down by his own master, the woolen draper Alexandre Mishard, who mistook him for the infamous murderer of young girls.” (197) “The result was that the scheduled execution of one of the most abominable criminals of the age degenerated into the largest orgy the world had seen…It was infernal.” (239) “In very short order, the angel was divided into thirty pieces, every animal in the pack snatched a piece for itself, and then, driven by voluptuous lust, dropped back to devour it.” (254) __Order – Society__ "The lecture was an immense success. The learned audience applauded the lecturer vigorously and lined up to pass the dais where Grenouille was standing." (142)
 * Grenouille begins his murders of the young girls in the region. He has no regard for the well-being of others in society and feels no guilt from the murders of innocent girls for their scent because he is driven by his obsession.
 * Because he is a genius who is misunderstood and is shunned by society, the reader expects him to use his talents for his own benefit and would cause disorder and chaos to society. The townspeople become fearful and angry.
 * - Just before Grenouille is executed, he puts on his newly acquired, perfect scent and causes chaos among the crowd. The people cannot control their animalistic instincts that are triggered by this scent.
 * This quote also shows how Grenouille’s scent causes people to be unable to control their animal side.
 * 4. Order in society is created by deceiving oneself and others in the fear of being in chaos. **

"Many of the gentlemen tapped him up and down in a professional manner, measured him, looked into his mouth and eyes." (142) “Although these coarse methods in no way squared with the cleanly executed crimes of the Grasse murderer, everyone was convinced that it was one and the same person….Normality returned to public and private life with incredible speed. Fear had melted into thin air.”
 * Even though the marquis’s theory concerning the earth’s //fluidum// is incorrect, the marquis used Grenouille’s situation and molded the evidence to support his theory. People would not be scared of Grenouille if there were a scientific reason as to why he looked like a monstrous creature and if there were a way to “cure” his situation.

“It was as if the bishop’s curse had not only banned the murderer, but every memory of him. And the people were pleased that it was so.”
 * Grenouille’s murders have so strongly impacted the people of Grasse that they are pleased with deceiving themselves when the murders have stopped for a period of time so that they could feel safe and that order could come back to society and the public.