For Griet, the young maid, which decision would be better: To marry a butcher or to remain single after she left Vermeer's house?
The film entitled "Girl with a Pearl Earring" was adapted from by Tracy Chevalier's novel of the same title. Centered around Vermeer's 1665 painting of an unknown girl with turban, this invented story deals with the issue of a young woman's awakening from her social postions and her decisions to decide her own fate.
For the painter Vermeer, Griet served the double roles of assitant and Muse, who inspired him and helped him. For the art collector/sponser, Griet was but another sexual object and her painting, another piece of art collection for private sexual fantasy. For Vermeer's mother-in-law, Griet was just instrumental--to help his son-in-law complete painting and earn some money. For Vermeer's wife, Griet was an intruder and a threat.
Caught in this web of interhuman relation and situated in different positions, Griet finally woke up from her dream of being a Muse and faced the cruel reality that she was just a maid. As a husband and with the painting finished, Vermeer was in no position to protect Griet anymore. His committment to her and need for her were simply in art world, not in reality. Griet was forced to leave.
In the novel, Griet married Peter and became a butcher's wife and mother of two sons. Peter never asked Griet about the ear piercing and they lived a good and happy life. Vermeer died in poverty and most of his possesstions had to go through auction. In his will, he deliberately indicated that the pair of pearl earrings should go to Griet: In his mind, Griet matched with the pearl earring and he requested to see Griet's painting again before he died. After Griet received the earrings, she sold them and used the money to pay the debt Vermeer's family owed Peter, for she thought that a butcher's wife was in not position to war pearl earrings.
In the movie, Griet just went home to resume her role of a daughter. When the pair of pearl earrings arrived in her hands, she realized that her contribution to Vermeer's family was finally recognized and her devotion to be Vermeer's model and assitant was finally appreciated. The director of the film seemed to leave Griet's marrital decision open: Her decision to marry Peter or not was not related with the incident at Vermeer's house. She didn't have to rush a marriage after quitting the job at Vermeer's house.
Discussion topic:
Which ending do you prefer? Why?
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