Art and Morality
PerfumeThe tension between Grenouille's artistic genius and his immoral acts.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Bearing strength in each eventdecreasingGenius Without Conscience
Genius Without Conscience
The First Murder
Grenouille killed the red-haired girl to possess her scent. He felt no guilt.
Artistic Justification
He saw the murder as necessary for his art. Morality was irrelevant.
Amoral Pursuit
Systematic Killing for Art
Systematic Killing for Art
Twenty-Five Victims
Grenouille murdered young women to collect their scents. He treated them as raw materials.
Craftsmanship
He perfected his technique, showing no emotion. The murders were purely technical.
Society's Horror
The Masterpiece
The Masterpiece
The Ultimate Perfume
Grenouille created a perfume of unparalleled beauty. It was his greatest artistic achievement.
Moral Collapse
Society, under its influence, abandoned all morality. The orgy showed the power of art over ethics.
Ambiguity
1753
1765-1766
1766
