Madame Arnulfi

• Grenouille was employed by Madame Arnulfi whom provided him with a temporary shelter and gave him food and other materialistic provisions.
• Witnessing to how Druot dissolves and mixes within the perfume oil, Grenouille was inspired and fascinated by the scent. He hopes to produce something sweeter than the absolute essence of Madame Arnulfi’s perfume, and knew he longed for nothing more but to reach his ultimate goal in creating one himself.
• Madame Arnulfi somewhat seems to be the surrogate mother of Grenouille, who inspired him in achieving his goal of extract by the sweetest scent that anyone could ever imagine. She is a loving woman towards her husband as well as being seen as an ambiguous figure within the novel.
• She has a good sense in business and developed outstanding skills in making business negotiation. Her appearance simply serves as a catalyst for the final murder that Grenouille has to commit to satisfy his obsession with smell. Arnulfi is also regarded as a female shadow of Grenouille because she's both materialistic and intelligent in terms of money making. Moreover, she has sexual desire in which can be fulfilled by her journeyman Druot. However, there was not much of a difference towards Grenouille who are both soulless and only wants to achieve one single goal with fixation.
• Madame Arnulfi represents the psychological mania of Grenouille, who lives only to extract an intangible scent, which cannot be kept forever. The transient appearance of Madame Arnulfi symbolizes the smell and the excitement in which involves Grenouille. Because of that, Grenouille is bound to be disappointed because of pursuing an elusive goal just like the essence sold by Madame Arnulfi.
• Arnulfi soon encapsulates the half-materialistic, half-intangible pedestal, which Grenouille is obsessed with and worships it. Her materialistic character and instinctive sexual desires is similar to the lust for scent Grenouille has.
• Further more, she is seen as a motherly figure who is rather protective and caring. Though due to business terms, the relationship between Arnulfi and Grenouille was nothing more than just a boss and apprentice.
• Hence, the creation of Madame Arnulfi is the physical manifestation of Grenouille’s impossible dream. As an elusive figure, she is like a bottle of perfume that he can never get hold of. Her provisions enable Grenouille to stay focused on his impulsive pursuit.
• After all, Grenouille is futile because he was destined to be lonely and loveless just like the treatment he receives in the house of Madame Arnulfi. Arnulfi symbolizes the illusory nature of love and a man’s pursuit. The disappointment faced by Grenouille is poignantly predicted in which the moral of the story is expressing how love is somewhat illusory.