Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Examine the various ways in which other people react to Grenouille when they encounter him and analyze the different reactions. Is there a common theme that emerges?

Is Grenouille what we would call a tragic figure for whom one should feel pity, or is he a straightforward antagonist?

Explain the power dynamics that exist between Grenouille and the various authority figures in his life, and analyze how Grenouille does or does not submit to them.

Compare and contrast the figures of Grenouille and Antoine Richis. What character traits do they have in common? Is the characterization of Antoine exploited to add to the narrative tension and drama?

Examine the various ways in which Grenouille treats men and women. Do you notice any patterns emerge in his different interactions with the sexes? Are there common themes in the way he interacts with different groups of people?

How do Grenouille’s imbalanced sensory faculties contribute to the kind of man he turns out to be? In what way does his lack of facility in certain areas (e.g., physical beauty, skill of rhetoric, emotional intelligence) clash and interact with his savant-like qualities in other areas?

Why do you think the author chose to describe Grenouille as ugly, and do you think that it was an effective choice? Why or why not?

In your judgment, does Grenouille’s character develop from start to finish in any perceptible way? Use specific examples from the text to prove your point.