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1-Page Summary of Girl With A Pearl Earring
Overview
This novel is narrated by a girl named Griet who lives in the Dutch city of Delft. She’s 16 and living with her family, which includes her father, mother, younger sister Agnes and brother Frans. Her father has been blinded from an accident at work and can no longer paint tiles for people to buy; he used to do that as his job. Her brother is now learning how to be a painter but isn’t yet earning any money for the family. Since they need help financially, she decides to become a maid in Vermeer’s house because it will bring them more income than if she stayed home doing nothing or becoming something else such as a milkmaid or washerwoman (which are other jobs women did back then).
Vermeer and his wife have four daughters, one of whom is pregnant. His mother-in-law also lives with them, as does a maid named Tanneke. Griet has been hired to help the family in their household duties. However, there are tensions between Catharina and Griet due to jealousy or resentment on her part; this is made worse by the fact that she’s not permitted into Vermeer’s studio because she moves things around too much when cleaning it.
Despite the challenges she faces, Griet is able to make herself indispensable in the household through her management skills and bargaining abilities. She interacts frequently with Pieter the butcher and his son Pieter the younger, who is clearly attracted to her. Her family’s insistence on a Protestant faith makes it difficult for her to respond positively to his affections. However, she begins to be exposed to new ideas when working for Vermeer—a world that was previously foreign and challenging but also exciting.
A plague broke out in the outskirts of Delft where Griet’s family lived, and her sister Agnes died from it. A wealthy patron named van Ruijven caught Griet’s eye because he was a notorious womanizer. Catharina gave birth to a healthy son called Franciscus towards the end of 1664.
In 1665, Griet takes on a new role in the Vermeer household. She secretly begins to work as his assistant by fetching supplies and grinding colors for him. She enjoys learning from him and interacting with him, but keeping this secret means telling several lies to her mother. She also becomes more confident about expressing her opinions and suggestions, which impresses Vermeer. The time spent with Vermeer fosters an attraction towards him that she channels into her relationship with Pieter instead of acting upon it herself.
Catharina eventually comes to accept Griet’s assistance in Vermeer’s work. She also realizes that Griet is becoming more important and respected within the household. However, she still feels uneasy about her husband’s interest in Griet and makes it known by questioning him about his relationship with her daughter. Cornelia continues to cause trouble for her sister by teasing or embarrassing her whenever possible. Van Ruijven remains interested in having a portrait of both Catharina and Griet together, but Vermeer refuses due to his wife’s disapproval of this idea.
Vermeer paints Griet’s portrait in the winter of 1666. The sexual tension between them increases as Catharina doesn’t know about the painting, and van Ruijven is becoming more aggressive with his advances towards Griet. She feels uncomfortable around him but she also enjoys being around Vermeer. This causes her to have sex with Pieter (Catharina’s husband). As they’re finishing up the painting, Vermeer realizes that it needs something else: Catharina’s pearl earrings.
Griet is not happy with the idea of Vermeer piercing her ear, but he insists on doing it anyway. Maria tells Griet that Catharina will be gone for the day and that they’ll have a chance to do what needs to be done while she’s away. She gives Griet the earrings and asks her to go upstairs so she can take them up there herself. The girls start watching from inside, as well as Pieter who just showed up at the house. He wants to know if he can marry Griet now that she has turned 18 years old. In order to get out of speaking about this question right then, she says no and goes back into the studio where Vermeer is waiting for her (and everyone else).
