Girl with a Pearl Earring

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In the novel Woman With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, Griet deals with lots of obstacles which causes her identity to change. Though Griet begins as an innocent housemaid who has to follow orders, she begins establishing her own viewpoint and the ability to make choices. Griet changes from a household servant to having the courage to share her viewpoint to a fully grown lady, efficient in making her own choices. Lots of elements contribute to the modification in Griet's identity, however the main element is Vermeer, her master.

In the beginning, Griet is deemed an innocent lady, who is compelled to work as a maid due to her dad's incapability to supply for her household.

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She does not wish to leave her household and go to an unidentified place, however she has to; in order to meet her household's requirements'. This is obvious when Griet states to her sibling, Agnes," 'You understand I don't wish to leave. I need to'"( 7 ).

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When she reaches the Vermeer home, she is considered as a helper with the home tasks, and a lady who must follow her master's orders'. Later, she begins to think about the Vermeer home as her own family. 'I have 2 households now, and they must not blend'"( 53 ).

This quote shows the reality that Griet is adjusting to her environment, and that she has begun considering them as her family. This illustrates a modification in her identity, as she has altered from an obliged and frightened girl to a house maid, capable of adapting to a new environment.

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Throughout the course of the novel, Griet begins developing her own opinion together with the courage to speak her viewpoint. In the beginning, she simply supported what she was informed:" 'But he was my master. I was indicated to so as he said'"( 57 ).

This shows the reality that Griet completes jobs without believing. Even if she wants to state something, she doesn't, since she offers her opinion no importance. Griet always had the capability to recognize Vermeer's paintings' strengths and weaknesses, however she didn't have the guts to say it. This changes, due to Vermeer, who requires Griet to offer her opinion." 'It is a better painting now'"( 64 ). This supports Griet's change in identity, kind being too terrified to speaking her mind to having the nerve to provide her opinion to her master.

Near the end, Griet’s identity has gone through the process of a young maid to a mature lady. At first, Griet’s opinion held no importance. She does not have a say in anything. This is evident when she says, “ ‘ What would I think, madam? ’”(157). Griet has certainly developed an opinion, but not the courage to speak it in front of others. She is aware of her status as a maid. This changes throughout the course of the novel. Griet does develop the courage to take the decision of her life as well as carry it out. “ ‘I did not pick up the knife.

I turned and walked from the room’”(215). This quote illustrates Griet’s ability to make and carry out decisions. She is not going to tolerate any wrong accusations, and she has learned to take a stand for herself. This change occurs due to Vermeer and his art. Somewhere in between, Griet realizes that she has had enough, and she’s not going to let anyone come and accuse her of doing something she didn’t do. Vermeer and his paintings made Griet feel that she does hold importance, and no one has the right to accuse her wrongfully.

Therefore, Griet’s identity undergoes a lot of changes throughout the novel. First, she is maid who is duty- bound to work in an unknown place due to her family’s needs’. As the book continues, she starts developing her opinion as well as the ability to say it. In the end, she is a mature lady with the capability to decide for herself. All of the changes are due to Vermeer. He was the one who accepted her and allowed her to give her opinion, and he was also the one who rejected her by silently standing there while Griet was being wrongfully accused.