Summer Reading

 I read “GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING” during this summer. This book was written by Tracy Chevalier.

 I have seen this painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” on TV. I was so impressed with her. I did not know why this girl in the painting attracted me, but I was interested in the painting. I wanted to know more about it. Therefore, I decided to read this book.

 Gliet had parents, a brother and a sister. Her father was a tile painter, but he was not able to work any more because of an accident. Therefore, she decided to work as a maid in Vermeer’s house.

 Vermeer lived with his mother, wife, five children and a senior maid. Gliet’s tasks were washing clothes, cooking and shopping for his family. However, the most important work was cleaning his studio for painting. Catharina, his wife, was jealous of Gliet, because she was not allowed to come in his studio. After the while, Vermeer asked Gliet to help making colors for his paintings. Although it was hard for her to do his tasks in secret, she was comfortable whenever she was in his studio.

 One day, Van Ruijven, Vermeer’s rich client, ordered Vermeer to paint himself with Gliet. She refused to be painted with him, because she heard his gossip that his maid was carrying his child. However, Vermeer decided to paint Gliet alone instead of painting her with him.

 When Vermeer was painting Gliet, he noticed that something was missing from the painting. The answer was Catharina’s pearl earrings. Then, Gliet wore the earrings for the painting, while Catharina was out. At last, Vermeer finished the painting. Unfortunately, Catharina knew the truth after she came back home. She blamed Gliet. Although she tried to scratch the painting, Vermeer caught her by his arm. When Gliet saw the spectacle, she decided to leave Vermeer’s house.

 It had been ten years from then. Gliet was married with Pieter, butcher’s son, and had two children. Vermeer was dead. When she visited Vermeer’s house again, she knew that Vermeer hoped her to get Catharina’s pearl earrings in his last will.

 My favorite scene is the last scene. Gliet received the pearl earrings from Catharina, because Vermeer hoped her to get the earrings in his last will. Vermeer may want Gliet to remind him even if he was dead, or to tell her to his love. However, Gliet turned the pearl earrings into money. It means that she took a step forward. That memory would not give her happiness. She chose a way to live as a butcher’s wife.

 Gliet may be an unfortunate girl. However, she was not defeated by any difficulties.

It has no wonder that our life will suddenly change like Gliet. There are both good things and bad things in our lives. This book taught me that people need to be strong to overcome any difficulties. We have to live hardly whichever we choose as a way to live.