The bias of the narrator and the way a protagonist is presented is more important than said characters actions in creating the audiences perception of him or her in Perfume and The Alchemist.
The nature of the term bias, leads one to judge someone or something under a certain influence. The bias of a narrator leads responders to judge and shape a character according to the motivations of the narrator; hence responders perceive the character from the narrators perspective rather than from the characters actions. In Perfume, by Patrick Sskind and The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho, the bias and influences of the narrators have a significant role in creating the responders perception of the protagonists, Grenouille and Santiago. Sskind, through the construction of Grenouille, intends to eliminate any sense of sympathy the responder may perhaps experience, thus creates a negative bias upon Grenouille. On the contrary, Coelho, with the intention to inspire responders, paints Santiago in a more positive light. In both Perfume and The Alchemist, responders can perceive the contradiction between the characters actions and the bias of the narrators. It is through the narrative stance that allows responders to perceive this factor that shapes our judgement of the protagonists as moral beings.
The portrayal of the characters from the narrators perspective in Perfume and The Alchemist generates the absence of actions from Grenouille and Santiago. In Perfume, the way in which Grenouille is perceived by responders is strongly influenced by the narrators bias. Sskinds mocking tone is captured through hyperbole, exemplified by, there lived a man who was one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages. The introduction to the protagonist with the repetition of the word abominable instantly provides responders with a negative bias towards Grenouille; a bias that forms a foundation for responders to shape their perception of Grenouille. This negative bias is further implemented when Grenouilles nature is compared to that of a tick; his loathsome nature is captured in Sskinds mocking tone, demonstrated by, He was as tough as a resistant bacterium and as content as a tick sitting quietly on a tree and living off a tiny drop of blood plundered years before. . It is evident through the utilisation of similes, Sskind is portraying Grenouilles similar characteristics to that of a tick. The proposition that Sskind puts forward in this metaphorical comparison, is that just like a tick lives off a drop of blood, Grenouille lives off a certain scent that he recollects. The narrative stance offers no justifications on the negativity put upon Grenouille solely due to the narrators intention for Grenouille to be perceived in this manner and to prevent any actions that may perhaps display the positive viewpoints of the protagonist.
In a similar manner, the protagonist in The Alchemist is portrayed through the exclusion of any negative viewpoints on Santiago, creating a similar effect as Sskind, however reversely. Coelhos motivation is for responders to be inspired; hence he employs a simple narration which creates a neutral stance. This allows the responder to empathise with Santiago and understand his Personal Legend. Santiago is portrayed as a good-natured character who acts righteously. For instance, Coelho describes the relationship between Santiagos sheep and Santiago, They were content with just food and water, and in exchange, they generously gave their wool, their company, and once in a while their meat. Responders can perceive no negative aspects of Santiago besides the subtle suggestion that Santiago uses his sheep as a source of food which would be considered the absolute opposite of Santiagos nature, however Coelho consequently intends to shape the responders perception of the protagonist.
In both Perfume and The Alchemist, the protagonists, Grenouille and Santiago, share a common trade of seeking isolation and detachment from society. In Perfume, Grenouille desires isolation when he discovers a cave on his journey to Grasse, Thus his nose led him to ever more remote regionsever further from human beings, driving him more insistently towards the magnetic pole of the greatest solitude. The fact that Grenouilles nose led him over such a great distance depicts the idea that he is almost desperate for solitude. This is further emphasised when Grenouille feels the pull of the magnetic pole and responders can perceive the excitement that Grenouille holds as he found detachment from human beings. The excitement and desperation is so great that he can smell the isolation as well as feel it. The repetition of the word ever illustrates the vast distance that separates Grenouille and society.
Analogously, Santiago also seeks isolation and solitude apparent from his desire to travel. In the same way as Grenouille, Santiago holds a negative view on humans, he always made new friends, and he didnt need to spend time all of his time with them. When someone see the same people every day,, they wind up becoming a part of that persons life and they want the person to change. The proposition that Coelho attempts to promote is Santiagos reserved nature and his yearning for isolation. In Perfume Grenouille revolts society and seeks isolation. Likewise Santiago eventually develops negative attitude towards humans, exemplified by, they wind up becoming a part of that persons life and they want the person to change and also seeks to be detached from society.
The bias of the narrator and the manner in which the language is utilised to shape the responders perception differs between the two texts. In Perfume, it is apparent that the narrator controls what the responders perceive of the protagonist. Sskind employs a sarcastic tone, undue ridicule and hyperbole to shape the protagonist. His mocking tone utterly demolishes the self-esteem of Grenouille, apparent by, He stood up, the great innermost Grenouille. Like a giant he planted himself, in all his glory and grandeur, splendid to look upon damn shame that no one saw him! and looked about him, proud and majestic. This hyperbolic narration depicts a demeaned protagonist which undermines the confidence of Grenouille. Responders would notice the weakness of Grenouille however overlook his splendour and dignity due to the blatant bias and motivation of the narrator.
On the contrary, The Alchemist takes a more empathetic approach, contradictory to Perfume. The narrative stance provides compassion for the protagonist. For instance, There was a moment of silenceit seemed the city was asleep. No hope, no adventure, no old kings or Personal Legends, no treasure and no Pyramids. It was as if the world had fallen silent because the boys soul had. The repetition of the word no accentuates Santiagos loss. Through this hyperbolic statement, responders can perceive the sympathetic voice of the narrator and the sheer level of disappointment Santiago experiences. It demonstrates how significant this objective was; hence under the bias of the narrator, responders are influenced to recognize the abrupt stress and anguish of Santiago at the prospect of being unable to fulfil his Personal Legend.
Through the close analysis of Perfume by Patrick Sskind and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, the bias of the narrator influences the responder to shape the character through the perspective of the narrator as opposed to judging them through their actions. Although the protagonists share a common trade on their quest for personal identity, the judgements formed by the responders greatly differ as the narrators bias of each text differs. The narrative stance in Perfume confirms that Grenouille is a loathsome and disliked character of the society; as a result, it concludes the perception of the responders towards Grenouille as negative throughout the text. In contrast, Coelhos omniscient bias encourages the responder to empathise with Santiago; as a result, it concludes the perception of the responders as positive throughout the text. The way in which responders are influenced through the authorial bias has a significant role in determining the nature of the character therefore the bias of the narrator and the way a protagonist is presented is more important than said characters actions in creating the audiences perception of him or her in Perfume and The Alchemist.
Bibliography
* Suskind, Patrick (1985). Perfume. Australia: Penguin Books Australia, 2003
* Paulo, Coelho (1988). The Alchemist. Harper One
Essay Topic:
The bias of a narrator and the way a protagonist is presented is more important than said characters actions in creating the audiences perception of him or her.
Discuss this statement with close textual references from several sections of both Sskinds Perfume and Coelhos The Alchemist.
Word Count: 1470
Doveen Kim
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[ 1 ]. Sskind Patrick, Perfume, pg. 3
[ 2 ]. Sskind Patrick, Perfume, pg. 21
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