Girl with a Pearl Earring Essay Example for Free

Girl with a Pearl Earring Essay In the novel Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, Griet faces many challenges which causes her identity to change. Though Griet starts out as an innocent maid who has to follow orders, she starts developing her own opinion and the ability to make decisions. Griet changes from an household servant to having the courage to share her opinion to a mature lady, capable of making her own decisions. Many factors contribute to the change in Griet’s identity, but the main factor is Vermeer, her master. At first, Griet is viewed as an innocent girl, who is compelled to work as an maid due to her father’s incapability to provide for her family. She does not want to leave her family and go to an unknown place, but she has to; in order to fulfill her family’s needs’. This is evident when Griet says to her sister, Agnes, â€Å" ‘You know I don’t want to leave. I have to’†(7). When she arrives at the Vermeer household, she is viewed as a helper with the household chores, and a girl who must follow her master’s orders’. Later on, she starts to consider the Vermeer household as her own family. ’I have two families now, and they must not mix’†(53). This quote demonstrates the fact that Griet is adapting to her environment, and that she has started considering them as her family. This illustrates a change in her identity, as she has changed from a compelled and scared young girl to a maid, capable of adapting to a new environment. Throughout the course of the novel, Griet starts developing her own opinion along with the courage to speak her opinion. At first, she just went along with what she was told: â€Å" ‘But he was my master. I was meant to so as he said’†(57). This demonstrates the fact that Griet completes tasks without thinking. Even if she wants to say something, she doesn’t, because she gives her opinion no importance. Griet always had the ability to recognize Vermeer’s paintings’ strengths and weaknesses, but she didn’t have the courage to say it. This changes, due to Vermeer, who forces Griet to give her opinion. â€Å" ‘It is a better painting now’†(64). This supports Griet’s change in identity, form being too scared to speaking her mind to having the courage to give her opinion to her master. Near the end, Griet’s identity has gone through the process of a young maid to a mature lady. At first, Griet’s opinion held no importance. She does not have a say in anything. This is evident when she says, â€Å" ‘ What would I think, madam? ’†(157). Griet has certainly developed an opinion, but not the courage to speak it in front of others. She is aware of her status as a maid. This changes throughout the course of the novel. Griet does develop the courage to take the decision of her life as well as carry it out. â€Å" ‘I did not pick up the knife. I turned and walked from the room’†(215). This quote illustrates Griet’s ability to make and carry out decisions. She is not going to tolerate any wrong accusations, and she has learned to take a stand for herself. This change occurs due to Vermeer and his art. Somewhere in between, Griet realizes that she has had enough, and she’s not going to let anyone come and accuse her of doing something she didn’t do. Vermeer and his paintings made Griet feel that she does hold importance, and no one has the right to accuse her wrongfully. Therefore, Griet’s identity undergoes a lot of changes throughout the novel. First, she is maid who is duty- bound to work in an unknown place due to her family’s needs’. As the book continues, she starts developing her opinion as well as the ability to say it. In the end, she is a mature lady with the capability to decide for herself. All of the changes are due to Vermeer. He was the one who accepted her and allowed her to give her opinion, and he was also the one who rejected her by silently standing there while Griet was being wrongfully accused.

Randolph Bourne Crying Out Against the Betrayal of the Values of Civilization :: Randolph Bourne Writers Essays

Randolph Bourne Crying Out Against the Betrayal of the Values of Civilization John Dos Passos wrote, that if ever a man had a ghost it was Bourne: A tiny twisted unscared ghost in a black cloak hopping along the grimy old brick and brownstone streets still left in downtown New York, crying out in a shrill soundless giggle: War is the health of the state. Dos Passos, 1919 (N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1932), pp. 105-106. When World War I erupted it came as a surprise to the overwhelming majority of American intellectuals. Its barbarity stuck them as anachronistic and they tended to view the conflict as a temporary sidetrack in the march of civilization, an expression of residual animal instincts. The dawn of the Enlightenment and the tremendous progress made in the Nineteenth Century made war seem quite uncharacteristic (in their view) of humanity's evolving nature. Of course, they saw themselves as important and instrumental in defining and fine tuning that nature. On the leading edge of political and social brilliance, ivy-league educated, born to lead and with the silver spoon in the mouth to prove it, they were socialists. And when President Woodrow Wilson (who had been re-elected as a peace candidate, under the slogan, "He kept us out of war") opted to throw the full weight of the country's resources into the European conflict, they rallied to his support. Randolph Bourne, who was to die in the flu epidemic shortly after the Armistice, cried out alone against the betrayal of the values of civilization by his fellow writers. He and his magazine paid a heavy price and, of course, he did not live to see the backlash following the war. The damage had been done; the stage was set for the idiocy of the conditions at Versailles, the ascendency of Adolph Hitler, the unimaginable horrors of National Socialism, and the destruction of the cities of Europe within the next thirty years. Randolph Bourne Crying Out Against the Betrayal of the Values of Civilization :: Randolph Bourne Writers Essays Randolph Bourne Crying Out Against the Betrayal of the Values of Civilization John Dos Passos wrote, that if ever a man had a ghost it was Bourne: A tiny twisted unscared ghost in a black cloak hopping along the grimy old brick and brownstone streets still left in downtown New York, crying out in a shrill soundless giggle: War is the health of the state. Dos Passos, 1919 (N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1932), pp. 105-106. When World War I erupted it came as a surprise to the overwhelming majority of American intellectuals. Its barbarity stuck them as anachronistic and they tended to view the conflict as a temporary sidetrack in the march of civilization, an expression of residual animal instincts. The dawn of the Enlightenment and the tremendous progress made in the Nineteenth Century made war seem quite uncharacteristic (in their view) of humanity's evolving nature. Of course, they saw themselves as important and instrumental in defining and fine tuning that nature. On the leading edge of political and social brilliance, ivy-league educated, born to lead and with the silver spoon in the mouth to prove it, they were socialists. And when President Woodrow Wilson (who had been re-elected as a peace candidate, under the slogan, "He kept us out of war") opted to throw the full weight of the country's resources into the European conflict, they rallied to his support. Randolph Bourne, who was to die in the flu epidemic shortly after the Armistice, cried out alone against the betrayal of the values of civilization by his fellow writers. He and his magazine paid a heavy price and, of course, he did not live to see the backlash following the war. The damage had been done; the stage was set for the idiocy of the conditions at Versailles, the ascendency of Adolph Hitler, the unimaginable horrors of National Socialism, and the destruction of the cities of Europe within the next thirty years.

Child Is His Own Creator

Then, what will be the role of adults ? It is such a miracle how a baby is created in a mothers womb. The knowledge which they have gained in their past births. Who thought them to cry to express their feeling of hunger or uneasiness. Child is his own creator for sure! Then what Is the adult's role ? There Is a lot of potential hidden Inside every child which sprouts out and grows well when given the right environment,right help or guidance.The first expectation of a child from an adult/ mother is LOVE. Love is a magical power which can turn a most toughest job into a cake walk. Love,patience and modesty and most Importantly even though the child may be smaller than us we need to give him RESPECT as an Individual human belong,who has his own self esteem ,likes and disk- likes. An adult should first understand that child's character Is the mirror reflection of his parent's character or of the people with whom they are growing.Whatever the child Is gifted with in his inner potential, i f he/ she does not get the right place/ environment o thrive and grow and if he gets exposed to the danger of all his capacities and potentials going of waste and even turning into negative way depending on the environment and the people with whom he Is growing with. If the adult is having any bad habits,they should change themselves first. We will have to understand the value of giving and taking respect and love.Show love and respect to the child ,he Intern will show the same to one and all and make us feel happy. Affably It's all about the attitude which Is more Important than what he Is going to learn academically. Children are precious gift from God and we need to make sure they grow In a safe and happy environment and what ever we give them during their developmental years will have nurture them and develop them into as lovable and respectable adults in the society.They learn a lot by looking at the adults so it's our responsibility to make sure we project the right behavior a nd right attitude towards them. Allow the child to develop in his own pace as decided by mother nature and once he has the right attitude,right support and a right environment to grow and learn the hill will develop into a lovable and respectable human being and with love,patience and perseverance he will win over anything and everything In this world. Child is his own creator?Then, what will be the role of adults ? Then what is the adult's role ? There is a lot of potential hidden inside every child magical power which can turn a most toughest Job into a cake walk. Love,patience and modesty and most importantly even though the child may be smaller than us we need to give him RESPECT as an individual human being,who has his own self An adult should first understand that child's character is the mirror reflection of his parent's character or of the people with whom they are growing.Whatever the child is environment and the people with whom he is growing with. Respect to the child ,he intern will show the same to one and all and make us feel happy. Finally it's all about the attitude which is more important than what he is going Children are precious gift from God and we need to make sure they grow in a safe and perseverance he will win over anything and everything in this world.

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