The Writer As Explorer

Tracy Chevalier has truly captured readers’ attention with her story Girl With A Pearl Earring. We are captivated by Griet and her story.  Chevalier has taken this painting done by Johannes Vermeer and turned it into this one novel. Page turner after page turner. She deals with many changes that range from difficult to amazing, which leads her to becoming a different person by the end of the story. She reminds us that life’s changes are inevitable and something that we will all face, some better than others. I find that the character of Griet is very easy to relate to. Her curiosity and the way she questions things in her new environment. We have all been that young girl before trying to find our way in the world and find ourselves. Chevalier gives us a hint of coming to age, but not entirely.

I feel as though the relationships and dynamics are what truly propels the story forward. Griet takes fondly to her master (Vermeer) and their relationship blooms over the course of the book. She longs to be close to him in ways that a maid should never cross. I was often reminded of the power dynamic between the two and found myself questioning if it was because of Griet’s young age that she had taken to him in this fashion and if it was truly healthy to do so. Frankly all of Griet’s “romantic” relationships gave me the same feeling. All had some type of power dynamic and it left me wondering who truly was the right fit for Griet. I did enjoy seeing how her relationships changed in the house. How she interacted with Maria Thins, who reminded me of a grandmother figure, and Catharina was very interesting to me, but we could see that developing in the beginning of the story.

There is obviously a reason that Chevalier made these choices and why she even came up with this story in the first place. I found myself intrigued by her inspiration and searching the painting for my own story and meaning as well.