How and in what ways are the female characters in Perfume by Patrick Sskind and Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman, portrayed differently?

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Name: Abhineet Kumar                      Center/Candidate Number: 000763-060

Overseas Family School

Singapore

World Literature Essay #1

How and in what ways are the female characters in Perfume by Patrick Süskind and Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman, portrayed differently?

Word Count: 1357

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the International Baccalaureate Diploma – Extended Essay 2008 – 2010

There is a significant difference between males and females that does not lie in their physical appearance, but rather in their respective nature. Literature confirms that males have almost always been perceived as the more dominant and independent gender, whereas females have been typified as vulnerable and dependent. Obviously, this is not always the case. In Patrick Süskind’s novel, Perfume, this common misconception is accepted while in Ariel Dorfman’s play, Death and the Maiden, it is challenged. In addition to being characterized through their own thoughts, dialogue, and actions, the female characters in both texts are also defined by the male characters in their respective stories. In Perfume, the hopeless murder victims of Grenouille are not only symbolic of female suppression, but also their lack of power. However, in Death and the Maiden, Paulina Salas’ fight to bring her alleged rapist and torturer to justice is testament to female strength. While Paulina and the female characters in Perfume may, at times, share the characteristic of being hopeless and vulnerable, Paulina seeks to overcome her lack of power, whereas Grenouille’s victims never have the chance and never try. Through the exchange of dialogue, actions and reactions, Paulina is portrayed as a character of power while the female characters in Perfume are not.

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Through the exchange of dialogue, it is evident that Paulina Salas is more argumentative than and not as indifferent as some of the female characters in Perfume. For example, in the very first scene of Death and the Maiden, it is evident that Paulina plays the more dominant role in her marriage with Gerardo. After Gerardo is dropped home by a stranger, Paulina begins an interrogation by asking him, “And who was that?” Gerardo is short of words and says nervously, “It’s just that I…” Paulina then retorts by saying, “Who was it?” demanding a quick answer (Dorfman 1.1). What ...

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