This allows Süskind to explore the thoughts of other characters, allowing for a greater understanding of their rejection of Grenouille, which is inherently due to his lack of perfume; for example, his nurse leaves him with Father Terrier because she believes he is evil because he "doesn't smell at all". The portrayal of Grenouille as a subhuman entity coupled with this narrative style causes the reader to unconsciously view Grenouille as subhuman. Süskind explores subhumanity through the behavior of Grenouille's mother. Grenouille's mother, the deuteragonist, abandons Grenouille after giving birth and professes that she would "let the thing perish" once captured. The use of "let" accentuates his lack of care for the child; not only is her indifference such that she is willing to let him die, but she refuses to end the child's suffering, preferring to let him die rather than directly cause it. The noun “thing” perpetuates this; it can be assumed that Grenouille's mother is unaware of her son's gender, thus limiting her to gender-neutral terminology. Furthermore, the use of