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How Does Grenouille Become A Sociopath?

Decent Essays

The author, Patrick Suskind, portrays the development of Grenouilles psyche based on his culture by beginning the novel with his abandonment. Grenouille was constantly passed on a multitude of times to individuals who did not want the accountability of taking on a demented child, who did not possess their own scent. Grenouille later needed a distraction from the lack of affection he was receiving, and later on he would then distance himself from people as a whole. Grenouille is a physically and emotionally abused orphan whose supernatural sense of smell guides him in a willful search for his identity. His great hope is to create an ideal perfume that will give him the magical essence of identity.
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is a unique individual who has experienced hardships throughout his short life. Once out of the womb, Grenouille was abandoned. The mother of Grenouille attempted to cut him out of her stomach, an attempt to execute him because she did not want to take on the responsibility for an additional child as she already had five. Later on, …show more content…

Was it his background or the society he lived in? He also did not have a social life, if someone saw him they would assume he was a social monster. Grenouille is a sociopath due to his isolation of the social world and the cruel crimes he committed. The reason he is considered a sociopath is because he did not have anyone to guide him, care for him or even love him. As Grenouille committed the dreadful crimes he did not show any emotion of remorse. What is so significant about this novel are the varying contrasts and symbolisms embedded on the story. It talks about divisions in society such as being gifted and being normal; of being accepted and being an outcast; of superficial things and authenticity; of passion and mediocrity; and of the conscious and subconscious. Grenouille’s culture has impacted his psyche in negative ways as well as positive

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