Vermeer And Griet example essay topic

INTRO: Girl With a Pearl Earring does demonstrate the limitations of poverty on a person's life, however it also demonstrates that money is not the only factor that can limit their choices. Girl With a Pearl Earring also establishes that the wealthy may also have some limitations in life. While Griet is limited by her family's lack of money, her role as a woman in society, her low socials status as a maid and her own expectations, our wealthy protagonist Vermeer also has limited choice about his art making, his need to support such a large family and his debts. Griet is limited by her family's lack of money Griet is a young woman confined by her family loyalty, her low social status and family's new descent into poverty. As her father has just lost his job, the family now lacks the income to put food on the table.

This new level of poverty for Griet's family forces her to have to take a job as a maid to the Vermeer's because "we need the money". There is no other option for Griet's family and they must rely on Griet to get this job to provide enough food for their survival "we have no choice". Griet is limited by her role as a woman in society Being a woman in 17th Century Delft was another factors that were limiting Griet's options. Unlike her brother Frans who was able to learn to become a skilled trades person, Griet's only option to provide for her family was to become a maid. Her unrealistic love of Vermeer was also tainted by her role as a woman in the society at that time. As a woman she would have only destroyed herself, and further limited her options by becoming intimate with Vermeer.

The market gossip threatens to destroy any young woman, as seen through the story of the maid in the red dress. Griet is limited by her low socials status as a maid Its true that Griet is forced to become a maid because of her families lack of income and once in the Vermeer's household has little to no power, due to her status as maid. Griet's limited power as a maid at the Vermeer's house would seemingly limit all her options in life, as she fears she may never get out of her role as a maid. Griet is limited by her own expectations Griet places unrealistic expectation upon herself, by assuming that she can stay unattached and unmarried to Pieter.

Griet is also limited by her expectation that Vermeer would be able to have a relationship with her. She limits herself and ultimately threatens her relationship with Pieter by holding on to the hope that Vermeer feels that same passion she feels. Vermeer limited by about his art making Vermeer's passion for his art making is limited by the expectations of his family. Both Maria Thins and Catharina demand that he paint faster to provide for their family. Vermeer limited by his need to support such a large family Vermeer limited by his debts Vermeer is indebted to Van Ruvjen and has no option but to paint Griet and ultimately ruin her life. He is indebted to the baker and must paint his daughter.

Catharina Limited in her inability to see what both Vermeer and Griet can see in the art world: While Griet has a natural understand and deep artistic perception, Catharina cannot see these things. She displays little interest in the wheel colour of vegetables, when they first meet Griet. Catharina cannot understand why Griet would need to ask if she was allowed to clean the glass. Catharina is kept out of Vermeer entire love because a part of her can understand his art world.