Girl with a Pearl Earring free essay sample

During the story the main character Griet changes a lot in her behaviour and attitude towards her environment. Information| Page| Quote| The shiness of Griet in the beginning towards Vermeer| 5| ‘No, Sir’ I hesitated. I could not say why I had laid out the vegetables as I did. I simply set them as I felt they should be, but I was too frightened to say so to a gentleman’| | | ‘I did not want him to think I was idle’| She hides under her cap 2| 12| ‘The man poling the boat called out a greeting me. I merely nodded and lowered my head so that the edge of my cap hid my face’| | 18| ‘When Catharina narrowed her eyes I realised she knew everything I was thinking. I turned my head so that my cap hid my face’| She is Protestant and sleeps in a room with a Catholic painting at the end of her bed| 32| ‘I could not imagine sleeping in the room with the painting. I wanted to take it down but did not dare’| Her behaviour starts to change, she sounds like Catharina3| 72| ‘I did not like her tone, nor what she said. ‘Please wake him and tell him his sister is here. ’ I demanded. I sounded a bit like Catharina. | For the first time she let her thoughts truly reveal to herself about Vermeer5| 82| ‘I did not like to think of him in that way. With his wife and children. I preferred tot hink of him alone in his studio. Or not alone, but with only me’| She becomes a better lyer, and does do this more often| 98| ‘My mother looked at me reproachfully. She knew when I lied. I was getting better at it, though’| Vermeer shows hints that he wants to paint/look at Griet| 104| ‘One morning while I was cleaning he came in and asked me to stand in for the baker’s daugther, who had taken ill and could not come. I want to look for a moment’ He explained. ‘Someone must stand thereâ€⠄¢| How much has changed since a couple of months| 105| ‘How much has changed since that morning, I thought. I had not even seen one of his paintings since then. Now I am standing in one’| She is ashamed towards Vermeer. | 107| ‘I reluctantly set out the colours he asked for each morning. One day I put out a blue as well. The second time I laid it out he said to me: ‘No ultramarine, Griet. Only the colours I asked for’ ‘Im sorry, Sir. ‘When I am ready I will ask’ My chest hurt. I did not want him to be angy with me. First touch| 109| ‘He placed his hands over mine. The shock of his touch made me drop the muller, which rolled of the table and fell on the floor. ’| Griet is able to sleep in the studio, and frequently comes up with excuses to hang around there. | 114| ‘Maria Thins each time gave me that sideways look when I made an excuse, but did not command. I began to get used to lying’| Relationship with Vermee r concerning the painting| 115| ‘I grew used to being around him. Sometimes we stood side by side in the small room, me grinding white lead, him washing lapis. | She starts to fall in love with Vermeer. 6| 116| ‘I did not mind the cold so much when he was there. When he stood close to me I could feel the warmth of his body’| She commands Tanneke| 120| ‘Tanneke, I said, if you know what’s best for you, you’ll not disturb Catharina, you’ll speak to Maria Thins. Alone, not in front of the girls’| She is becoming more bold and daring in her behaviour| 125| ‘I went up to Pieter. ‘Why are you here? ’ Knowing I should be more polite. ‘Helo Griet, no pleasant words for me? ’ ‘Why are you here? ’| Griet is very sad| 126| ‘Don’t worry, Father. You are not losing me’ ‘We’ve already lost you Griet. We lost you the moment you became a maid. ’ I was glad he cold not see the tears that pricked my eyes’| She shows interest to Vermeer instead of Pieter. | 127| ‘On those Sundays I felt very confused. When I should be listening to Pieter, I found myself thinking about my master’| Shows best how bold she became, she wants to change something in Vermeers painting. | 141| ‘Whenever I looked at the scene, my chest grew tight. As I lay in bed one night I decided I had to make the change myself. †¦ and so she did| She dares to show her thoughts4| 144| Vermeer: ‘Tell me, Griet, why did you change the tablecloth? ’ ‘There needs to be some disorder in the scene, to contrast with her tranquillity. Something to tease the eye’†¦ She did not dare to do this in the beginning, when Vermeer asked her why she put the vegetables in a certain kind of rank. | Her mother judges her change of behaviour7| 146| ‘Working for them has turned your head. She interrupted. It has made you forget who you are and where you come frome. We are a decent Protestant family whose needs are not ruled by riches or fashions’| Despair when she might leave her sleeping place in the attic near Vermeer| 152| ‘If I could not work with the colours, If I could not be near him, I did not know how I could continue to work in that house’| The household starts to look up at Griet | 159| ‘Catharina’s treatment to me was the greatest surprise. I had expected that she would be even more difficult than before, but instead she seemed to fear me. Maria Thins too changed towards me, treating me with more respect. Maria Thins about Griet’s behaviour8| 167| ‘It seems you have a champion to defend your honour’| BEGIN CITAAT| 180| ‘Now look at me’ I turned my head and looked at him over my left shoulder. ‘Griet’ he said softly. It was all he had to say. My eyes filled with tears I did not shed. ‘Yes, don’t move’. I knew now. He was going to paint me. | Long eye contact with Vermeer during the time he paints her| 191| ‘I looked at him, his eyes were with me now. He was looking at me. As we gazed at eachother a ripple of heat passed through my body. ’ | She refuses to do something her master asks of her| 192| ‘Your cap’ he said. Take it off’. ‘No, sir’ ‘No? ’| She suggests she can help Vermeer, example of her bold behaviour| 202| ‘May I look at the painting? ’ He gazed at me curiously. ‘Perhaps I could help’ I added, and then wished I had not. I was afraid I had become too bold. | Admits an important truth to herself| 237| ‘For a long time I had thought I might still mater to him. After a while, though, I admitted to myself that he had always cared more for the painting of me than for me’| She may have the pearl earrings| 246| ‘Catharina looked down at the letter, then glanced at van Leeuwenhoek, and then opened her jewellery box. He asked that you have these’ She picked out the earrings and after a moment’s hesitation laid them on the table’| The end9| 248| ‘Pieter would be pleased with the rest of the coins, the de bt now settled. I would not have cost him anything. A maid came free’| AANTEKENINGEN FILM The movie is approximately like the book, but the story is told by little flashes from the life of Griet. The book on the other side, is a more chronological plot, which makes it easier to read and understand. Some similarities; In the beginning Griet starts to talk to Catharina for the first time ‘Good morning, madam’ followed by a polite bow, but the answer of Catharina is clear, and supports her facial expression; ‘Only speak when you are told’ * Also she starts being brutal to Pieter, which asks her in a good mood if she can smile for him. In the end she does do this. * One similarity that is seen in the movie exactly like it was written in the book; when Griet makes a slip of the tongue. When she presents Pieter to her partens she says; ‘This is our butcher’s sun, †¦ the family’s butcher’s sun’. Exactly the same as in the book. At page 127; ‘On those Sundays I felt very confused. When I should be listening to Pieter, I found myself thinking about my master’. The same came forward in the movie. Griet was watching out the window looking at the clouds, she had learned from Vermeer that afternoon that clouds con tain several colours, not only white like most people say. Briefly; she is thinking about Vermeer. Tanneke noticed her intimate contact with Pieter and says; ‘Hey you, thinking about the butcher’s sun? ’. Griet catches herself thinking about Vermeer, just like in the quote up here. But there are also some important differences between the book and the movie. List up below; * First of all, the dead of Griet’s sister Agnes is not mentioned in the movie at all. Neither the existence of her brother Frans, who works in a fabric as an apprentice. Though this information is not very important for the story. * Secondairy, the movie is somewhat accelerated. In the first 15 minutes of the movie, Griet already starts inspiring Vermeer for a new painting. * Also Vermeer touches Griet a bit more in the movie, like when they are making paint they tend to touch each other’s hands. When Griet goes outside Vermeer touches her and says that her carpet isn’t thick enough to resist the cold. In the movie Griet is being more exposed to the relationship of Vermeer and * Catharina. She sees them when they are acting a bit intimate, several times. As a summary, concerning my thesis; the book shows better the change of behaviour of Griet. In the movie Griet stays a bit shy, and there isn’t a big change in her acting towards everybody. SUMMARY Johannes Vermeer was a very important painter in the 20th century. He painted the famous picture ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, and as you can see, this is a story that might explain how this painting came about and why it was painted. Griet, the maid in the painting, came from a very poor family. In the past, her father was a painter too. But on account of an accident, he became blind and for that reason couldn’t paint anymore. Someone had to make money, so Griet became a maid in the household of Johannes Vermeer. Griet her duty to take this job, and help her family a bit out of the poverty they are living in. The first day Griet starts to work for her master (Vermeer) and her mistress (Catharina) she discovers that it is not going to be an easy job. She has to work hard and has to accept being commanded all the time. Her hands became rough and injured by all the washing and robbing. Her only way out of this living hell, is for Griet to be around her master, Vermeer. She loves his paintings, and she’s lucky to be able to clean the studio, and at long terms sleep in the attic above the studio. All kind of ways to get closer to Johannes. But this love isn’t actually unilateral, Vermeer starts to develop feelings for Griet as well. Slowly he let her do more and more tasks, which no person was allowed to do ever before. They make paint together, and sometimes Griet is even able to speak and give her opinion about his paintings as well. Van Ruijven, in some way a friend of Johannes, is obsessed with Griet and her beautiful wide eyes. He becomes too intimate with her, and touches her private parts when he has the chance. The worst part of all, is that he wants a painting of Griet and him. Vermeer refuses to paint this, so they make a deal. Vermeer is going to paint Griet, secretly. Catharina may not know this, because she will become too jealous and might even kick Griet out of the house. Griet and Vermeer start with the painting, and during this process they slowly fall in love with each other. But in a very quiet and secret way. They cannot reveal too much of their feelings for each other. When the painting comes to its ending, both of the characters, with their sense of painting, discover there is missing something. And both of them realise that there needs to be a pearl earring to finish the painting, Catharina’s pearl earring. When she gets out of the house, Griet pierces her ears and wears the earring. The painting is finished. But there is all but a good ending; Catharina finds out. She is furious at her husband, but even more at Griet. Immediately she fires her. Here ends the relationship of Vermeer and Griet. Fortunately, during the story, Griet has made contact (especially by support of her parents) with Pieter, the butcher’s son. She has already kissed him, but she was not completely fallen for him. He actually already has asked her to marry him, and now she is gone from the household of Vermeer, she decides to take this offer. In the end, everything turned out to be okay. IDEA’S FOR ESSAY * Begincitaat; ‘Now look at me’ I turned my head and looked at him over my left shoulder. ‘Griet’ he said softly. It was all he had to say. My eyes filled with tears I did not shed. ‘Yes, don’t move’. I knew now. He was going to paint me. ’ Page 180 * Eerst inleiden, stelling ongeveer; She began to work there as a very shy and introvert girl. But during the play, her character changes. Her behaviour towards Vermeer and her environment, is undergoing a great bending. She becomes more outspoken and she stands up for herself. Given that Griet is the main character of ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, those changes are worth some attention. * Argument 1; First of all, her attitude towards the people in the household transforms. Hide cap * Quote from book and movie (Catharina first day) * Time goes by†¦ act like the people * Secondary, we have Griet’s relationship with Johannes Vermeer (Concl. a great change towards Vermeer, concerning her feelings but also her attitude) * In the beginning she did not dare speaking to him, but in the course of the story she even dares to change t he setting of a painting in Vermeer’s studio * She develops feelings for Vermeer as well, not one sided ( * Paint together (movie) * Quotes boek hoe ze over hem denkt Last but not least, her environment notices these changes as well. (It appeals to be clear that her mother, Maria Thins, but also the other people in the house have noticed Griet’s new behavoiur_ * She is going to consider Vermeer’s family as her own (pieter introduce slip of tongue) * Moeder clear opinion * Mother in law quote * Conclusie; * Change * Reason (harsh against getting used to) * Brave enough to leave * Life already waiting for her * Forget vermeer * The last phrase of the book shows exactly the result of Griet’s behaviour changes: ‘A maid came free’ ESSAY ‘Now look at me’ I turned my head and looked at him over my left shoulder. ‘Griet’ he said softly. It was all he had to say. My eyes filled with tears I did not shed. ‘Yes, don’t move’. I knew now. He was going to paint me. ’ Page 180 Johannes Vermeer was a very important painter in the 20th century. He painted the famous picture â₠¬ËœGirl with a Pearl Earring’, and as you can see, this is a story that might explain how this painting came about and why it was painted. Griet, the maid in the painting, came from a very poor family. In the past, her father was a painter too. But on account of an accident, he became blind and for that reason couldn’t paint anymore. Someone had to make money, so Griet became a maid in the household of Johannes Vermeer. She began to work there as a very shy and introvert girl. But during the play, her character changes. Her behaviour towards Vermeer and her environment, is undergoing a great bending. She becomes more outspoken and she stands up for herself. Given that Griet is the main character of ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, those changes are worth some attention. First of all, her attitude towards the people in the household transforms. An important trait of Griet is that she always tried to hide her face under her cap. She does do this, in order that no one is able to see her emotions. She is very introvert. For example on page 18; ‘When Catharina narrowed her eyes I realised she knew everything I was thinking. I turned my head so that my cap hid my face’. The film shows this shyness as well. For example on the first day, when she tries to be polite to her mistress, Catharina; ‘Good morning, madam’ she says, followed by a polite bow. But the answer of Catharina is clear, and supports her facial expression; ‘Only speak when you are told’. But when time goes by, the feature of hiding her face under her cap seems to fade away, and her attitude changes. It even changes that much, that she tends to act like the people in the household as well. A good sample of this we see on page 72; ‘I did not like her tone, nor what she said. ‘Please wake him and tell him his sister is here. ’ I demanded. I sounded a bit like Catharina. ’ Secondary, we have Griet’s relationship with Johannes Vermeer. He is a very silent, modest and interesting man. Although, that is what Griet thinks. In the beginning she did not dare speaking to him, but in the course of the story she even dares to change the setting of a painting in Vermeer’s studio, page 144 ‘Vermeer: ‘Tell me, Griet, why did you change the tablecloth? ’ ‘There needs to be some disorder in the scene, to contrast with her tranquillity. Something to tease the eye’ ‘. Fortunately, Vermeer likes the change and applies it to his painting. Besides this, she develops feelings for Vermeer as well. And surprisingly, this love is not one sided. In the movie for example, we watch them making paint together. Gradually, Vermeer tries to touch Griet’s hand softly. In the book is written how Griet thinks about Vermeer: ‘I did not like to think of him in that way. With his wife and children. I preferred to think of him alone in his studio. Or not alone, but with only me’ Page 82. Or: ‘I did not mind the cold so much when he was there. When he stood close to me I could feel the warmth of his body’ Page 116. These quotes show her bold behaviour, namely these thoughts are not very usual to have for a maid about her master. Summarized; a great change towards Vermeer, concerning her feelings but also her attitude. Last but not least, her environment notices these changes as well. She is going to consider Vermeer’s family as her own. In the movie, we see Griet making a slip of the tongue when she introduces Pieter to her parents. ‘Mom, Dad, this is Pieter. Our butcher’s sun †¦ The family’s butcher’s sun’. Her mother noticed this, and at dinner she gives a clear opinion about how she thinks Vermeer’s household changed Griet: ‘Working for them has turned your head. She interrupted. It has made you forget who you are and where you come frome. We are a decent Protestant family whose needs are not ruled by riches or fashions’ Page 146. Besides that the mother-in-law of Johannes strikes this as well: ‘It seems you have a champion to defend your honour’ Page 167. It appeals to be clear that her mother, Maria Thins, but also the other people in the house have noticed Griet’s new behavoiur. In conclusion, Griet transformed from a shy, introvert girl to an almost bold, but most of all outspoken maid. The reason for this might be that she has to be more harsh in this new environment, because she is being used kind of like a slave. Or the reason is simply that she is getting used to the behaviour she sees around her, and starts to command people herself. But thanks to these changes, Griet is brave enough to leave the house when she finds out Vermeer will eventually always choose for Catharina, his wife. She decides to run away and start a new life, which was actually waiting for her all the time. She marries a butcher, and she is able to forget Vermeer; ‘For a long time I had thought I might still matter to him. After a while, though, I admitted to myself that he had always cared more for the painting of me than for me’. Page 237. The last phrase of the book shows exactly the result of Griet’s behaviour changes: ‘A maid came free’ Page 248.