Response to Griet's Right Decision

            It is very difficult for Griet to make her decision with her love life, especially when she is young and unsure of herself. Pieter who can help her financially and support her family and Vermeer who sees things differently just like Griet.  I think she was being thrown into an adult world of responsibility and she still had the innocence of a child. She was caught between wanting more in life with love and doing what is expected of her. She wanted to have the perfect love and reveal herself to only one man. If I was Griet’s friend I would advise her to choose Pieter.

            I think that Vermeer and Griet were both attracted to each other and could possibly have fallen in love, but that the fixed social structure of their times did not let it happen. Griet and Vermeer would look mismatched because of their age difference, and they were socially different with different religion. Vermeer did not have the "power" or had limited “power” over Griet because he was also finically unstable and needed support from his mother in law Maria Thins, and his patron Van Rujivan who bought his paintings. He was simply being loyal to his wife and family, and would not do something that will affect his family or his wife by being with Griet. I do feel he had a special appreciation for Griet and considered her his friend. Yes it is true that Vermeer fell in love with the mysteriousness of Griet and with the way she also saw things in the way he did. But I don’t think he ever loved her in the sense of having affair with her or make her as his wife.

            Even though she shows that she does not love Pieter, I feel that she does, because one day when she went to the meat store, she did not see Pieter and cried because he was not their. She even admits she was crying for him. Even though he may smell bad or has bloody finger nails he was still attractive and he had his own business. Also Pieter was from the same religion and is near the same age as Griet; her family also accepted them to get married. The main reason why she kept saying she was too young to Pieter is because she was not ready to make any decisions. I think she did the right thing by thinking about it from her heart then just doing what her parents wanted her to do, even though they were right.       

            Griet is inconsistent and felt obligated because she wanted to help her family and because Pieter was a very eligible young man, and deep down she knows that he was the person to be with who makes her feel her self and not someone else. As if I was Griet's friend, I would advise her to choose Pieter because he can give her a new and a good status in the society then having the status of a maid.

revison for composition # 6

               In history, government has had too much control over its people. It corrupted and exploited society to benefit themselves in some ways. Bad intentions and evil doings of a government can lead others to also follow and believe what the government does. But sometimes the society does know it is being manipulated by the government. I believe it is true that corrupt government leaders do face the consequences and suffer for the crimes that they have done to their society.

            Both Adolf Hitler and King Louis XIV were corrupt leaders in history. When Hitler rose to power in Germany, there were racist discrimination between Jews and Germans. Hitler committed evil acts towards the Jewish people. King Louis XIV the “sun king” had taken advantage of his society by making the people pay more taxes.

            Hitler killed millions of Jews, just because he felt that the Germans who had blond hair and blue eyes were superior to any other race. Hitler put many Jewish families in prison with little food to eat. He tortured them, and used poison gas to kill them. Most of the German society also agreed, believed and supported Hitler’s ideas towards the Jewish race. Even though Hitler felt he was right about his actions he really was not. Countries like the United States were against Hitler’s actions and wanted to help the Jewish society in Germany that were held in prison. In the end Hitler shot himself because he realized that he failed to complete his mission and everyone was against him, and that is why he suffered for his crimes against his society.

            King Louis XIV lived in a mansion, with a lot of servants and maids. King Louis got most of his wealth from his people, by making them pay taxes. Louis did not use the tax money to help his people, but to benefit himself. King Louis took advantage of the majority of the poor people, so the poor got poorer and the rich got richer. Later Louis decided to escape his kingdom because he knew that people were against him and was willing to change the law, to lower taxation. But eventually he was captured and executed because of his evil actions towards his people.   

            This is why the government, people, or even the society who uses their power against others or individuals, will suffer for their consequences for evil doings when the right time comes.

"Girl With A Pearl earring" (pg 169 - 233)

Summary:

“You smell of linseed oil” Griet’s father said to her on Sunday. Her parents did not know that she was being painted by Vermeer. She told her parents about the other paintings that he was working on. Pieter never told Griet that she smelled of Linseed oil. When Pieter and Griet made love, she did not look at his face or his hands. He wanted to see her hair but she did not let him. She was to set in the chair again for Vermeer so that he can paint her. Sometimes she would take the other woman’s spot when they were not present. Vermeer wanted to paint Griet differently, not like a maid. He wanted to paint her just like the first time he saw her at her mother’s kitchen. Vermeer told Greit to take of her cap so he can paint her, but she refused; but one day Vermeer saw her with out her cap. So Vermeer gave her some pieces of cloths to tie it around her heard to cover her hair. Vermeer suggested her to wear his wife’s pearl’s, to complete his painting of her. Van Leeuwenhoek told Griet that Vermeer liked her and that she should take care to remain her self. Catherina was again 6 months pregnant. When the painting of Griet was finished, Cornelia some how found out and told her mother about it. Catharina was very upset and angry when she found out about it, and asked Vermeer why he had not painted her. Griet was afraid and left their house and never cam back. Greit married Pieter and was working at the meat shop. Griet had two sons, who were kicking and playing with a bone. One day Tanneke came to the meat shop to tell Griet that Catharina wanted to see her. When Greit went to Catharina’s house she had eleven children, some she recognized and others she did not. Catharina gave the pearl earrings that belong to her to Greit, because after Vermeer death he wrote a note to gave the pearl earrings to Griet.  

Part I liked:

I liked the part when Griet received the pearl earrings, because after she left Vermeer’s house, she thought he just painted her for Van Ruijven’s pleasure and never really cared about her. But now that she knew he wrote the letter to Van Leeuwenhoek to give her the earrings, she actually knew that he liked her and cared for her.

Interpretation:

Griet experienced many things as a young girl. Her life was full of love, hate, jealousy, hardship, and other experiences throughout her work as a maid at Vermeer’s house. As Griet becomes closer to Vermeer she did not realize how dangerous the situation can get and what she is in to. This eventually led Griet to leave the house. It was a good and a bad thing for Griet to leave the house. She did not have to work as a maid anymore and was happy to live with Pieter.

" Girl With A Pearl Earring" pg 110-169

Summary:

Now that Griet sleeps in the attic, she noticed she loved staying there, even though she does not like being locked in at night. She had a little freedom to wonder around the studio and look at Vermeer’s paintings. She was able to help Vermeer, to wash and grind colors. Although Griet was scared if Catharina knew about her helping Vermeer, but she felt save since Maria Thin knows that she helps Vermeer to paint faster. Tanaka became mean and sloppier because she started to get even more jealous about Griet being in the attic and so was Catharina. Griet found out that Tanneke is royal to Catharnia and maria Thins, because once Tanneke saved Catharina from getting hit by Catharina’s brother William who was violent just like his father. She had found out the even Maria Thin was beaten by her husband and that is why her husband and her were separated. One Sunday Pieter had visited the church to meet Griet’s family. Pieter would come some times and became friendly with Griet’s parents. Griet realized that even when she talks to Pieter, she thinks about Vermeer. Griet’s mother invited Pieter to eat with them, and Griet knew that they had to eat less to serve Pieter. Pieter and Griet finally came close to each other, and Griet got her first kiss from Pieter while saying bye to Pieter after he had ate. When Vermeer was finished painting the bakers daughter, the baker and his family came to look at the painting and bought it from Vermeer. Then Vermeer stared to paint Van Ruijven’s wife. Griet had posed for Van Ruijven’s wife when she could not make it to the studio for some reason. Griet deicide to change something in the studio because she did not like the way Vermmer had set it up to paint, she was worried if he would say anything to her. Vermeer had not said anything to her, but made her change in his paintings. Griet had asked Vermeer if his paintings were of Catholics. Vermeer told her it depends on how the people see it, and not about a religious figure. Griet learned that Vermeer was protestant before he had married Catharina. Griet had started to also think about Pieter when she went to the meat shop and did not see him there, she felt sad. Cornelia stole Griet’s comb and placed her mothers with Griet’s. At the markets people were talking about Greit that Vermeer will paint he with Van Ruijven. Vermeer told Griet to set in his studio because he was going to paint her. 

Part I liked:

I like the part when Griet went to buy meat at the meat shop with Maertge and had tiers because she did not see Pieter, which shows that she does like Peiter. Peiter’s father saw her and knew that she like also has feelings for Peiter.

Questions:

If Van Ruijven is the patron for Vermeer, who buys most of his paintings and is richer then Vermeer; why does Van Ruijven’s wife wears Catharina’s pearls doesn’t she have her own pearls?

Interpretation:

As Griet started to know more about Vermeer and Pieter, she is confused about who she likes. Griet like's Vermeer because of his paintings, it brings an imagination to her, where she feels she can escape and feel free to talk about colors and how it is used in Vermeer's paintings. With Pieter, she likes him because of his blue eyes and his charming looks, but not just because of that, Pieter was a nice man, who showed interest in her and is welling to marry her. When Griet is with Pieter she felt she was back in her same old life again how it was before, so  Pieter also make her feel comfortable in some ways. Griet would ask both Vermeer and Pieter, about things that she felt was wrong or wanted to know more about. Both Vermeer and Pieter gave her a place to be her self then with other people that surrounds her.  

Revision for Composition # 6

           In history, the government had too much control over its people. They corrupted and exploited the society to benefit themselves in some ways. Bad intentions and evil doings of the government can lead others to also follow and believe what the government does. But sometimes the society does know that they are being manipulated by the government. I believe it is true that corrupted governments do face their consequences and suffer for their crimes that they had done to the society.

            Both Adolf Hitler and King Louis XIV were the most famous political leaders in history. When Hitler rose to power in Germany, he had corrupted and exploited the Germans with false accusations. Hitler committed evil acts towards the Jewish people. King Louis XIV the “sun king” had taken advantage of his society by making the people pay more taxes.

            Hitler killed millions of Jews, just because he felt that the whites were superior to any other race. Hitler put many Jewish families in prison with little food to eat. He tortured them, and used poison gas to kill them. Most of the German society also agreed, believed and supported Hitler’s ideas towards the Jewish race. Even though Hitler felt he was right about his actions he really was not. Countries like the United States were against Hitler’s actions and wanted to help the Jewish society in German that were held in prison. In the end Hitler had shot himself because he realized that he failed to complete his mission and everyone was against him.

            King Louis XIV lived in a mansion, with a lot of servants and maids. King Louis got most of his wealth from his people, by making them pay taxes. Louis did not use the tax money to help his people, but to benefit himself. King Louis took advantage of the majority of the poor people, so the poor got poorer and the rich got richer. Later Louis had decided to escape his kingdom because he knew that people were against him and are welling to change the law, to lower taxation. But eventually he was captured and executed because of his evil actions towards his people.   

            This is why the government, people, or even the society who uses their power towards others or individuals, will pay for their consequences for evil doings when the right time comes.

"Girl With A Pearl Earring" pg 67 - 110

Summary:
When Griet went to the meat shop, Pieter told her about her family’s illness. Greit was upset when she heard that her sister Agnes was more ill because of the plague. The next Sunday Griet went to visit her brother Frans to tell him about the plague. Frans was angry because no one had told him about the plague. Since the plague continued in her neighborhood, she was not allowed to go home until the quarantine was over. Griet cleaned up the studio, but this time she was able to move things, because Vermeer was finished with his things until he will use it again. Now that she had to move things around the studio, she was not comfortable in that room. Van Ruijven and his wife had come to Vermeer’s house to see Van Ruijven’s wife portrait. Van Ruijven was asking questions about Griet wanting to know more about her and wanted to be accompanied by her. Finally when Griet heard from Pieter that the quarantine was over, she hurried home to see her family and found out that Agnes had died. Greit was not able to do her work properly then before, because she was not able to get over Agnes. Everyone in Vermeer’s family knows what had happened to Agnes, and did not really blame Greit, for her being careless at her jobs. Even though Catherina knows the death of Agnes, she does not show her any kind emotions to Greit, but acts usual as before. Griet found herself comfortable and felt warmth from Aleydis and Cornelia seems to feel bad for Griet and offers her a doll that they no longer play with. Catherina had given birth to another boy Franciscus; after he was born they all prayed and blessed for the baby and Catherina. Once again Vermeer stared to paint again and this time it was a painting of the baker’s daughter. Griet learned how to grain colors for Vermeer’s paintings. She was to sleep in the attic because now the nurse moved in for few days. 

Part I Liked:

Now that Griet is sleeping in the attic she is able to give more time to herself and also with him. She had learned how to grind colors and felt comfortable with the environment she was working in. She felt no need for her to explain, with her helping Vermeer to Maria Thins, because Maria Thins figured out that he paints faster that Griet is helping him. 

Question:

1). Does Vermeer really care about Griet, or was he just inspired by her colorful imagination?

2). Why Tracy Chevalier choose to put years instead of chapters ?

Interpretation:

Griet was able to help Vermeer to paint faster. By helping Vermeer with grinding the colors, she was able to learn more about him and the colors he uses in his paintings. She is now involved with his paintings as well;  when ever he needed anything she would get it for him. Griet has learned how to talk properly and to make long things short, with out having to say too much, with Vermeer, Maria thins, Catherina and all the other members in the house hold. She is facing challenges each day, but she has also learned how to resolve them in some way. 

Revision for Compostion #5

            An individual’s characteristics and development can change by the society they live in. Many times social practices were accepted and perhaps even good, became unacceptable and harmful in the society when time changes. Every society, at any point has some bad things that need to be changed. Behavior of individuals is very much influences by the culture of the society, so we must differentiate between wrong doings of individuals due to evil intentions and cultural pressure. The book “1984” by George Orwell and “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley shows how the society had corrupted and changed once thoughts and ideas. Even though the individual knows it is not right. 

           

            In the book “1984” by George Orwell shows how the character Winston who wanted to change the way he lived and wanted a privet and a free way of life. Winston even wishes that he could be a prole because the proles were living a better life without police observation then the people in the "Big Brothers" society. He secretly hates the Party and wants to rebel by writing in a diary about his thoughts. Winston knows that one day he will be caught and killed. When Winston was finally caught he had gone to prison, he was tortured and was brainwashed. Winston wanted to escape and rebel “Big Brother” but he couldn’t because of the society he lives in had shaped and developed him to love big brother and believe what they told him which he had before criticized.

           

            In the book “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley shows how the society made everyone equal even though they weren’t “everyone belongs to everyone else”.  It shows that there is no individualism and that it does not excites. The government uses a process by forming modern civilization, by taken away history and education. Everything was made and produced by technology. The character Bernard is really more interested in excelling socially than in defining his individuality. Bernard’s popularity increased after he discovered John, but before that Bernard was lonely, insecure, and isolated. When he returns with John, he uses his popularity to participate in all of the aspects of World State society that he had criticized before.

                       

            Another character from “Brave New World” John used ideas from Shakespeare which helped him to understand his own complex emotions and reactions, which help him, realize why he should criticized the World State’s values and John understood his own ideas against the government. But in the end even he failed to change the society and his own way of life, when the World State confronted him of “orgy porgy” which he would never participate in. But the society influenced him to attempt the “orgy porgy” even though he did not want to. Both the characters in the novel resulted of an insanity created by the world around them.

           

       Both “Brave New World” and “1984” show how environment shape’s individual’s growth and development. Individuals are established by the place and culture they live in. The society can change the way individual’s think, and it can also change their ideas to what the society believes. The importance for individuals is the way they feel about their society and how it changes them. Change can be frightening because it could end up being for the worst. But there are time’s when change can be for the best and that is why people fight for it.