Perfume

Patrick Suskind's 1985 novel Perfume deals with themes controversial enough to raise eyebrows. After all the protagonist is a mass murderer whose victims are all virgins. The crimes therefore reveal the confluence of gender and politics, as well as moral integrity. However outlandish the premise of Perfume might be, the book remains part of a literary canon. The book was well-received by critics and remains a core part of any university modern literature program. Moreover, the book retains amazing literary merit. The author employes characterization, symbolism, and other literary devices with aplomb and it would be outlandish to even think about banning such an artistic gem. Many of the world's best novels have caused a stir quite like the one created by Patrick Suskind. J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye is a prime example of how prudishness, ignorance, and lack of foresight can mar artistic, social, and political progress....
[ View Full Essay]