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Part 3, Chapter 36
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Perfume, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Growing Up and Becoming Human
Power and Control
Creative Genius vs. Convention and Assimilation
Upward Mobility and Social Movement
Scent, Sight, and the Grotesque
Summary
Analysis
Grenouille is willing to perform all the menial chores in the following months, but his sense of smell allows him to notice when oil is overheated, for example. Occasionally he suggests this to Druot, who sees that Grenouille is respectful of his power of first journeyman and often correct in his suggestions. As such, Druot begins to leave more decisions to Grenouille, and eventually most of the process.
Grenouille makes this entirely about power. He appears to respect Druot and his power, and understands that playing this role will encourage Druot to give Grenouille more power. We see too that Grenouille is learning, and is certainly filing all this information away for later use.
Themes
During jasmine season, Grenouille learns that the flower is too sensitive to be plunged into hot oil. Rather, the flowers are spread on glass plates that have been smeared with oil, and as the flowers die, are replaced with fresh ones until the oil is saturated. Grenouille recognizes that the pomade differs slightly in scent from the flower itself, but is close enough to fool the rest of the world.
This realization that the jasmine pomade isn't exactly the same scent as the flower itself no doubt only fuels Grenouille's sense of superiority, as it's close enough to not be noticeable by the general populace. Again, notice that the language used to describe the process is sensual yet grotesque.
Themes
Druot sees with the cold process that Grenouille is again better than he is, and as such allows Grenouille to make all the decisions. Grenouille encourages Druot to regard him as an unambitious nitwit, and eventually the two get along very well. Through the winter there is little to do in the shop, and Druot makes himself scarce. Grenouille doesn't go out except to journeymen's meetings, where he encourages the others to think that he's uninteresting. They leave Grenouille alone, just as he wants.
We again see that Grenouille is cultivating his act of being perfectly normal and uninteresting, which allows him to work on his goals unnoticed. He understands that attending these meetings is absolutely necessary for maintaining this façade, as it's important for him to be a known figure, seen in public, to then be labeled as normal.
Themes
