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Here are descriptions of most of the characters in the book Girl
With a Pearl Earring.
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Griet
Griet is the Girl with a Pearl Earring, thus, being the main character of the story. At 16, Griet is taken to
Vermeer’s house and her main task is to clean his studio without moving anything. Griet and Vermeer develop and odd
relationship and men like Vermeer, van Ruijven the patron and Pieter the son lust after her. Griet’s beauty and understanding
of Vermeer’s artistic ways inspires him to paint the classic portrait, Girl With a Pearl Earring. After completion of
this picture, Griet runs from the house after 2 years to marry Pieter the son and becomes a butcher’s wife and has two
sons, Jan and Frans. Ten years after leaving the Vermeer household, the famous painter passes away. The earrings are given
to Griet and are then sold for twenty-guilders.
Griet's Family
Griet’s family consists of her father, moth, Griet herself, Frans and Agnes. Agnes, at the age
of around 11, dies of a plague. Frans, at the age of 13, becomes an apprentice to a tile factory. Griet’s family is
Protestant thus the discomfort of Vermeer’s paintings. Griet’s father was blinded one year earlier by an accident
involving his trade of tile. Needing money, Griet is send to the Vermeer household to work for 8 guilders a week.
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Pieter the Son and Father
During Griet’s two years serving the Vermeer household, she meets two men, Pieter the son and the
father. They are the Vermeer family butchers and Pieter the son eventually falls for Griet. When Griet turned 18, Pieter asked
for her hand and eventually, Griet gives in. Pieter has two sons, Jan and Frans with Griet. Pieter often teased Griet about
the 15 guilders that was owed by the Vermeer household. At the end of the novel, his 15 guilders are returned to him, “a
maid comes free”.
Vermeer
Vermeer is the
husband of Catharina and, eventually, father of 11 kids. His main patron is van Ruijven. Vermeer’s family was higher
on the social class, but money was running low, for, his paintings were taking a while to be created. With the arrival of Griet, his paintings were progressing faster and she, thus the creation of the
Girl with a Pearl Earring, inspired his art mind.
His beautiful painting of Greit would prove to have a full effect on Greit's future.
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Maria Thins
Maria Thins is more or less the master and owner
of the house that the Vermeers and Griet reside in. Maria Thins is the mother of Catharina, mother-in-law of Vermeer and grandmother
of a grand total of 11 grandchildren. Maria discovers Griet's special art relationship with Vermeer, yet, encourages it. Her
reason being that if Vermeer paints faster with Griet around, income would only be better. It is Maria Thins who takes the
pearl earrings from Catharina's jewelry box and gives them to Griet to wear. This is significant due to the fact of severe
distances between owner and servant during that time period. Years after Griet leaves the house, Maria Thins still maintaines
a acquaintance with Griet.
Catharina
and the Vermeer household
Catharina
is the vain wife of Vermeer and daughter of Maria Thins. Catharina's jealousy of the relationship blossoming between Vermeer
and Griet becomes the reason Griet runs from the house. Catharina bores Vermeer his eleven children, the five eldest being
the ones who associate with Griet. Maertge, Cornelia, Lisbeth, Aleydis and Johannes are the five oldest children's names.
Cornelia is most responsible of the children for Griets leaving; giving Griet nothing but trouble. Maertge and Aledia become
closest with Griet; accompanying her on errands, visiting her when she leaves and comforting her when Griet's sister passes
away.
Tanneke
Tanneke is the head servant in the house of Vermeer. Tanneke
and Griet form an odd friendship; both acknowledge each others place in society. Both are envious of each other. Both depend
on each other. Tanneke, being the older servant, pushes most of her to Griet, but, still maintains a feeling of sister-ish
love towards her. At the end of the story, Tanneke is the one who goes to find Griet to explain that in Vermeer's will, her
left her the pearl earrings. Tanneke remains to be a maid for the Vermeer household after Griets abrupt departure.
van Ruijven
van Ruijven is the lustful patron of Vermeer who first lays eyes on Griet
at the Vermeer house. He regards her as the "wide-eyed maid" and is the first to suggest that Vermeer paint her. Vermeer,
then, begins to paint Griet. This painting becomes the classic Girl With the Pearl Earring. During his visits to examen the
painting of Griet, he sexually assaults her in various ways. In the end, the painting is sold to him but, is borrowed by Vermeer
again towards the end of his life.
van Leeuwenhoek
van Leeuwenhoek is the other patron of Vermeer although he and van Ruivjen differ in
many ways. van Ruijven is a lustful beast towards Griet while, van Leeuwenhoek takes pity on Griet and warns her about the
effect of being in Vermeer's paintings. Although van Leeuwenhoek is not a big part of the story, his place is still significant
with his pity towards the poor.
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webmaster: lino
pages done by lino, m0m0 and thompkins
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