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Particularly throughout the first half of the novel, Grenouille is described as a “tick,” in that he is ugly, lies in wait without being entirely aware of what he's waiting for, and "drops" when he scents blood (or in Grenouille's case, perfume). The tick, then, represents how Grenouille is seen by the outside world (compared to how Grenouille sees himself; compare the tick to the Grenouille that exists in his inner palace). In a very literal sense, the comparison of Grenouille to a tick alludes to his vampire-like tendencies. Like a tick or a vampire, Grenouille metaphorically sucks his victims dry of their lifeblood in the form of both their scent and their lives, without any conception of morality, right, or wrong. Like a tick, robbing victims of their blood or scent is just what he does, and seemingly what he must do to survive.
The Tick Quotes in Perfume
The Perfume quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Tick. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part 1, Chapter 14
Quotes
The tick had scented blood. It had been dormant for years, encapsulated, and had waited. Now it let itself drop, for better or for worse, entirely without hope. And that was why he was so certain.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Perfume LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Tick Symbol Timeline in Perfume
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Tick appears in Perfume. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 4
...variety of childhood illnesses, and some physical mishaps. The narrator likens him to a contented tick, living quietly on blood drank years ago. He requires no attention or love.
(full context)
...decision out of spite and malice. The narrator observes that Grenouille is like the aforementioned tick in a tree, hibernating and waiting for the scent of blood so it can then...
(full context)
Part 1, Chapter 6
...Grenouille never resists him. The narrator states that Grenouille bottled up his defiance in a tick-like way. In the evenings, Grimal locks Grenouille in a closet to sleep on the floor,...
(full context)
...12, Grimal allows Grenouille time to himself every week to explore the city. Grenouille "the tick" feels triumphant and alive, and experiences the urge to hunt for scents in the smelly...
(full context)
Part 1, Chapter 14
...there is nothing to justify Grenouille's belonging here as a tanner's helper, but Grenouille the tick had scented blood and was letting itself drop.
(full context)
Part 2, Chapter 27
...of the world are overly sharp to him, and the narrator notes that Grenouille "the tick" has grown extremely touchy. When Grenouille finishes taking care of his needs outside the cave,...
(full context)
Part 3, Chapter 39
...a scent, however, is unknown, and he reasons that it seems more desirable. Grenouille "the tick," having reasoned to let himself drop one last time, lays back and thinks himself heroic.
(full context)
