41 Beside her manners, Griet carefulness is also proved by others’ reactions to
her works. Maria Thins, Chatarina’s mother, feels satisfied with her works. She often gives her praises. Vermeer’s daughter, Maertge, also gives her compliments
to her satisfying works. However, Griet likes to be humble in receiving it. She does not want Tanneke to feel jealous with her and to make their relationship get
worse. I was careful to deflect any praise for better housekeeping from myself. I
did not want to make enemies. If Maria Thins likes the meat, I suggested it was Tanneke’s cooking that made so. If Maertge said her apron whiter than
before, I said it was because the summer sun was particularly strong now Chevalier 51-52.
Through Griet’s speeches, conversations with other characters, her reactions towards various situations, her ways of thinking and others reactions towards her
actions, it can be said that Griet is a maid who works carefully to satisfy her master and mistress. Her carefulness in doing her job is shown especially when
she cleans the studio and does the household duties.
5. Tough
Being raised in poor condition makes Griet accustomed to suffering and poverty. This situation builds her toughness towards her misfortune. Moreover,
her father loses his eyesight and his trade. Meanwhile, Griet’s family needs money to survive. Thus, Griet decides to be a maid in her teenage years and
leaves her house to struggle for her family’s better life. At the beginning she feels upset to work and to be a maid, but the situation forces Griet’s family and
gives no opinions. She really loves her family, especially Agnes. Since her
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42 brother, Frans leaves their house to work in as tile maker, Griet gives all of her
attention to Agnes. She does not want to make her feel alone and tries to make her happy. Griet also makes her father feel comfortable and assures her father that
being blind is not the end of the world. She patiently takes care of her parents, especially her father Chevalier 7.
The conversation between Griet and Agnes in their bed before they sleep shows Griet’s toughness. Griet says that she does not want to leave their house,
but she has to. She explains to her sister, Agnes, that they need money to survive. By working in Vermeer’s house, Griet will be paid eight stuviers a day. It will
help the family to eat properly Chevalier 9. One occasion, Griet goes to the canal to get some water, suddenly her pot
falls. She meets a man in a boat near the falling pot, and she asks him for a help. Her toughness can be seen when she refuses the man to get her kiss. She has a
principle, and she does not like the stranger’s manner even he has helped her to catch the falling pot. She does not respond his request and goes away.
I blushed . ‘Please sir,’ I began, ‘Can you help me to get that pot?’ ‘Oh, you’re looking at me now that you want something from me, are you?
There’s a change’ Cornelia was watching me curiously. I swallowed. ‘I can’t reach the pot from here. Perhaps you could-‘
The man leaned over, fished out the pot, dumped the water from it, and held it out to me. I ran down the steps and took it from him.
‘Thank you. I’m most grateful.’ He did not let go the pot. ‘Is that all I get? No kiss?’ he reached over and pulled my sleeve. I jerked my arm away and
wrestled the pot from him. ‘Not this time,’ I said as lightly as I could. I was never good at the sort of
talk. He laughed, took up his pole and pushed off Chevalier 24.
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43 Through the way she speaks to the children when they want to accompany
her to the market, it can be said that she is a tough girl. She has a rule and principle. She will say firmly when she does not want the children to accompany
her. She shows the children even though she is only a maid in Vermeer’s house, she has an authority to refuse and to accept what the children say. Griet thinks that
she has her own privacy in her life without being disturbed by the children or her daily tasks. One day, Maertge and Lisbet ask Griet to go with her to the Market
Square. Griet says that they have something to eat and help Tanneke. Griet does not want the girl to accompany her to the market. She wants to be alone and lets
no one disturb her private time Chevalier 40. Further, Griet hears that her sister, Agnes dies. She is very sad to hear that
Agnes dies because of the plague. She shows her toughness by growing stronger and bringing the happiness to her family as before. She becomes the only daughter
in the family who will try to cheer her parents after losing Agnes. Griet also applies some adjustment to herself since Agnes’s death by making her busy of
doing her tasks in Vermeer’s house Chevalier 78-79. One occasion, Pieter tells her that he wants to propose her. Griet replies his
proposal with firm words. She says that she is too young and she refuses his proposal Chevalier 170. Through her reactions towards various situations and
events, her speech, and her conversation with other characters, we can conclude that Griet is a tough girl because she can manage and solve her problems toughly.
Moreover, she has a principle in her life.
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44
6. Smart and Artistic
