Open Prompt -- Dec 9th

1980. A recurring theme in literature is the classic war between a passion and responsibility. For instance, a personal cause, a love, a desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion or drive may conflict with moral duty. Choose a literary work in which a character confronts the demands of a private passion that conflicts with his or her responsibilities. In a well-written essay show clearly the nature of the conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work.

         Europe in the 1660s was not a fun time to be alive, and a series of misfortunes has forced sixteen year old Griet to become a maid in an artist's home.  While in her new home, Griet discovers fantastic art which she soon becomes enamored with.  Tracy Chevalier paints this story of a maid with a conflicting passion in her novel Girl With A Pearl Earring.

        Griet grew up watching her father paint the tiles that decorated homes across all of Holland.   Her father became blind after a terrible accident, and Griet was shipped off to become a maid to help feed her family.  The family she worked for was a difficult one: The mother was unloving and demanding, the six children often misbehaved, and Griet became lonely and overworked.  The only thing Griet liked about working was the father and his art, a skilled painter who entrusted her to clean his studio.    His studio was off-limits to everyone but himself and Griet for cleaning.   In the studio Griet found a sacred, peaceful place where amazingly realistic portraits were painted, and soon her own father's painted tiles could not compare with the masterpieces the great Vermeer created. 

        However, Griet struggled with this newly discovered passion.  Vermeer's wife hated the fact that Griet had permission into the studio when she did not, and gave the poor maid even more work to do.  Griet understood that she must keep her position as a maid because her family depended on her meager income, and so she often had to push aside her desire to sit and watch Vermeer paint during her rare free moments and instead do as her mistress ordered.  Griet is seen fighting many mental battles between her former obedient self and her new rebellious self.  And while she usually choses responsibility over passion, by the end of the novel she is a changed person: Valuing her hard work while embracing her new passion.

       The conflict between responsibility and passion is the focus of the plot of Girl With A Pearl Earring, and its significance is not to be overlooked.  The 1660s was not a time to fool around in, as even the smallest of mistakes could cost you your job, which could cost you your life.  While conditions are not so extreme today, it is understood that a balance between work and play is essential.  Like Griet, we must have our priorities in line, first focusing on what is needed to be done for our survival, then our passions.