Aromatic Symbols in Time Anonymous 11th Grade

Noah David Perry
Mrs. Wells
Aromatic Symbols In Time
Within a novel, authors incorporate and implement symbols into their works in order to transfer more detailed ideas and deeper meanings through to the reader; ideas richer than what they actually write. In the novel Perfume by Patrick Süskind, Grenouille, an odd character with an extraordinary sense of smell, journeys on a quest to find his identity through various encounters with women and perfumery methods. The setting within this story, specifically the historical place and time, mimic the life of Grenouille, and can be much easier to identify due to the inclusion of strategic symbols within the book. Through the use of girls, flowers, and perfume as symbols surrounding the life and experiences of Grenouille within the novel, Süskind illustrates the significance of the time period in France, including the historical views on women and the role of the enlightenment.
The reoccurring symbols and metaphorical interplay between flowers and women is very reflective of the pre-revolutionary time period in France. During this era, women were commonly seen merely for their attributes of beauty and their likelihood to wed. In this way, Grenouille’s opinions echo that of the time...