He is an ignorant scientist, whose bad qualities are only visible when the readers are aware that his theory is greatly flawed. In a way he can be considered as a 'joke' character, and we are supposed to laugh at his ignorance. He is blinded by his ambition to prove his theory and overlooks the possibility that Grenouille's rapid recovery was due to ulterior supernatural reasons (i.e. Grenouille isn't normal). The Marquis even considers Grenouille's resistance towards the scent of violets as further proof of his theory, when in fact just that Grenouille wants an excuse to make his own perfume.
His significance in the story is his influence on Grenouille, transforming him from a monster that lived in a cave for 7 years into a respectable-looking gentleman. Although the purpose of helping Grenouille was an opportunity to prove his theory of fluidum letale, the end effect was that Grenouille could travel looking like a real journeyman perfumer.
He also represents the new age of the Enlightenment era, where people begin to value science as much if not more than religion. He is a contrast to characters like the wet nurse Jeanne Bussie and Father Terrior, who are devout Catholics. He strictly believes that “life could develop only at a certain distance from the earth, since the earth itself constantly emits a corrupting gas, a so-called fluidum letale, which lames vital energies and sooner or later totally extinguishes them. All living creatures therefore endeavor to distance themselves from the earth by growing – that is, they grow away from it and not, for instance, into it; which is why their most valuable parts are lifted heavenwards.”
By Nathan Hsu
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