Cursed Perfume. Part II.

Two thirds into the book, our protagonist  killed one with his own hands; though, that is not the only death so far. Every person that he has contact with; every one of them - either the one who took care of him out of obligation (Madame Gaillard); or the one who used him because his indifference to the most distressing and disgusting tasks (Grimal, the tanner); or the one who utilized him for his unique and extraordinary talent (Baldini); or the one who paraded his recovery and return from solitude as a personal victory of his own foolish notions (Marquis Taillade-Espinasse) - none of them survived or lived not very long after their encounter with Grenouille (Madame Gaillard may be an exception; however, her end was not as rosy as she had planned and Suskind took care to make sure the reader know that.)  Or should I say that, having certain connection or association with Grenouille - however pathetic it might had been - has somehow placed a curse on these folks that their immediate and tragic death are almost unavoidable whether by their own actions or purely accidental.  It is not clear if Grenouille ever found out that, these people who are a bit more than casual acquaintance of his, even the one had shown him some sort of kindness (the motivation was strictly selfish nonetheless decency it was), strange and tragic death awaited them - no exceptions.

So were they cursed by Grenouille or is Grenouille cursed that he is not meant to have relationships of any kind - however pathetic and insignificant - with the human race? Is he truly evil, a devil as the wet nurse Bussie proclaimed? Or is the author preparing us to accept the fact that he is death himself - whether or not he directly caused the death of others - before AND after he starts his quest? A pathetic little guy starting out his life in the most unimaginable circumstances; growing up in various difficulties without even meaning to survive.  He lives simply because he keeps breathing: brutal birth, fatal illness... as if without a scent, he is not attracted to death and in a way, invincible.

I think Grenioulle is cursed.  I am reluctant to make the conclusion that he is evil.  A truly evil person, in my opinion, has to have the ability to ascertain good and bad, to understand what love and compassion is; and, on his own choice, preform sinful acts and disregard basic human benevolence. Let me try it another way, Grenioulle does indeed have a certain sense of "self"; an awareness of his own being; though, I get the idea that he does not have a "soul" or "consciousness", so to speak, there is no moral compass install in him. Not sure if it's because the external influence - the way he grew up - or he was born without it as he was born without the scent of his own. (Which he discovered in one chapter and it was a fascinating read.  I would venture to say if any of us realizes that we do not have a "soul", we'd probably have the similar reaction and eventually just go on with life doing what feels right to our own logical, natural conclusions and the dictation of our own desires.)

~to be continued~