Reading 1001 discussion

10. Grenouille is introduced as "one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages" [p. 3]. Does Süskind manage to make him a sympathetic character, in spite of his murders and obsessions? Or do you find him wholly repellent? How might you explain Grenouille's actions? To what extent do his experiences shape his behavior? Do you think he is inherently evil?

I found him repulsive and to me personally he was not sympathetic I would class him as a psychopath/ sociopath because he cares only about himself and what he wants.

I think he would still have been a murderer even if he had a better life because he was obsessed and that obsession could not be changed.

I think he did partially manage to make him sympathetic at least until the end. I found his whole existence to be rather sad and the fact that he was driven in part by needing to feel loved and to achieve some sort of identity was sympathetic. However, I lost all sympathy with him toward the end with the murders. I would agree with Book Worm in that he had no guilt or remorse or even consideration for anyone else - sociopathic.