COMPREHENDING THE RIDDLE: A CRITICAL EXCAVATION OF MYSTERY AND CHAOS IN ‘PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER’

Abstract

Abstract

This paper examines the story of Jean Baptiste Grenouille through the movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer and it addresses how societal pressure affect an individual. Grenouille's experiences of social alienation, abandonment, and trauma, as viewed through the lens of General Strain Theory (GST) and Trauma Theory. The movie portrays Grenouille, as man ostracized from birth and devoid of a personal scent. The analysis explores the concept of General strain theory posits that this chronic ostracism cultivates anomie, a normlessness that erodes his moral compass and fuels his deviant behaviour. By examining these psychological underpinnings, the paper offers a nuanced understanding of Grenouille's motivations and the path towards violence that defines his story. The study explores how Grenouille's traumatic experiences – abandonment, isolation, and a world devoid of his own personal fragrance – shape his perception of the world and ultimately propel him down a dark path. Trauma theory illuminates how Grenouille's formative experiences create a sense of alienation and disconnection, impacting his ability to form healthy attachments and navigate social interactions. General strain theory complements this analysis by demonstrating how the unrelenting strain of existing outside societal norms and being denied basic social connection cultivates a pervasive sense of anomie. This anomie, in turn, weakens Grenouille's moral compass and contributes to his increasingly deviant behaviour.