The Writer As Explorer

Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier is filled with commentaries on 1600s sexism, classism, and the story behind this mysterious painting. That being said, the one thing that needs to be talked about more is the beautiful writing that takes us to a completely different world. Chevalier uses similes, symbolism, and foreshadowing to create a dynamic plot for the readers. 

Chevalier was inspired to write this story after staring at a poster in her room with the painting Girl with a Pearl Earring. The story’s entire idea is based on a single thought, “I wonder what he did to her to make her look like that.” Immediately, the story was birthed and published for our enjoyment. With little known about the painter himself, Chevalier decides to create her own narrative of the artist and the muse. She not only creates a personality, but reveals the muse herself had the knowledge and inspiration to become a painter. On page eight, there is proof that Griet has the makings of a painter; it says, “I always laid vegetables out in a circle, each with its own section like a slice of pie. There were five slices: red cabbage, onions, leeks, carrots, and turnips. I had used a knife edge to shape each slice, and placed a carrot disc in the center.” With the imagination of Chevalier, we are shocked to find that she uses common kitchen ingredients to symbolize the color wheel. It is remarkable how she would fit a scene that shows the character’s true colors. 

Chevalier also gives foreshadowing consistently throughout the novel. For example, on page twenty-two, the audience reads that Griet, the main character, slaps the eldest daughter across the face after the daughter has done something bratty, stating, “I reached over and slapped her. Her face turned red, but she did not cry. She ran back up the steps. Aleydis and Lisbeth peered down at me solemnly.” In the story’s final scene, Griet leaves the house for the last time with the cursed pearl earrings and bumps into the daughter once more, writing, “Cornelia was standing out in the hallway. The brown dress she wore had been repaired in several places and was not as clean as it could be. As I brushed past her, she said in a low, eager voice, “You could give them to me.” Her greedy eyes were laughing. I reached over and slapped her.” (Chevalier 195) Chevalier has an incredible eye for small details that seem to take the story full circle. 

In order to create a scene for a book, there must be strong imagery and overall well-written literary devices. With many of the scenes digging into emotional and dramatic scenes, Chevalier uses similes to describe these moments, making them even more real. For example, on page 153, Chevalier uses similes to show Griet’s franticness as she tries to hide her hair from the outside world, stating, “I did not know what to do. I looked around as if I would find an answer in the studio.” By reading this, we can fully understand Griet’s panic and stress as she looks to find something to tie her hair up. We not only know what the main character is feeling, but we, too, feel what the character is feeling.

Tracy Chevalier’s writing in The Girl With A Pearl Earring is both inspirational and beautiful. So many writers can look up to her in the writing world and take notice of her capabilities to make readers feel empathy toward characters.