This is a private blog between my 2013-14 JSA students and myself, concerning the topics discussed in our class. Generally, our discussions revolve around History, English and Art. Go JSA!
Friday, October 18, 2013
How should Griet have handled Van Ruijven?
I think we can all safely agree that Van Ruijven is a bit aggressive when it comes to Griet. How should she have handled handled her relationship with Van Ruijven, knowing that he was so powerful and influential with the Vermeer family?
Personally, I think Griet should have stuck up for herself against Van Ruijven. I'm all for women not being treated like animals. Even if it costs her her job, she should still have a say for who touches her and where.
Even though Van Ruijven is powerful her still has to follow rules. I agree with what Griet did because even though it cost her the job she still told Vermeer that she was being touched by Ruijven. That brings down his social class a lot. Also it shows Ruijven's identity and what he really is.
I think Griet should have stuck up for herself. No one should be able to touch her if she does not want them to. i don't care how powerful they are, they have no right to do that.
Although Van Ruijven is very powerful I think Griet should have stood up for herself. Even though he might ruin her life and her employers life, she should stood up for what she believes in.
Griet was in a awkward situation Van Ruijven was attractive to her and had lustful thoughts also he was a wealthy man and a good friend of Vermeers. She should of stood up to Van Rujiven, but he had more power over her. He was a rich man and she was just a maid. Vermeer did attempt to stand up for her, but he did not want to upset his wife.
In all honesty, and going against what others seem to have said, if you were a female during that time-period you were not respected as anything more than dirt itself. Therefore, sticking up for herself would have been nearly impossible, as she is only a maid whilst Van Ruijven was a well-known man. To stand up for herself and have Van Ruijven possibly seek revenge for his injured pride, would cause not only harm for herself and her job, but also her family. Their pride would be ruined, and their name could become tarnished, especially after the situation of Frans. Standing up for herself may seem incredibly logical in today's time, but I'm nearly positive that a female standing up for herself during this time period could result in something out of a horror movie.
I think that Griet should have definitely stood up for herself. Even though she is a maid, and barley has any rights, she is still a human being. She has the right to tell someone if she wants that kind of physical action. On also, I understand why she didn't say anything. She probably would have lost her job, and that's a big deal! She needs that to survive and support her family!
I think that Greit attempted to stand up for herself with Van Ruijven. However, she did not make a point of being with people instead of in the coutyard when he was around. Also, by telling Vermeer right away, about what was happening. Instead Vermeer found out for himself, and still painted a picture of Greit for Van Ruijven's personal pleasure. I understand that Griet could not refuse this painting, because Vermeer had already gotten her out of the group painting. However, she did not have to do everything as Vermeer had told her to do. Such as to open her mouth just a little which gave her the look of a prostitute.
I think what Griet did in the book was smart because she avoided him by running some errands while not risking her job but I still think she should have mentioned something to Vermeer or Maria Thins because that may have prevented the situation from happening again. It also probably would've ruined Van Ruijven's reputation a little bit too. She also could've stuck up for herself right to Van Ruijven but that probably would've resulted in losing her job. At least, she would be sticking up for herself though. The bottom line is that if you are being touched in a way that you don't like you should tell someone about it, period.
I think that she should have just told him to leave her alone. Clearly she was not interested in him and he was a little creepy in my opinion. She definitely should have either told him straight up or told someone else to keep him away from her. She handled it in the worst way possible because not speaking up just causes him to keep bothering her. It is a good thing that at least she avoided him as much as possible.
I think Griet should have stood up for herself. She was capable to do so. Even though the time era wasn't big on women's rights, she is still a person and deserves respect. She did though avoid him when she could. Vermeer kept his eye on him too, and maybe that's why she didn't speak up. If I were Griet I would have made it very clear to him not to bother me.
I think it was smart was Griet did. If she would have stood up for herself then she would have lost her job and her family would have been hated in the town because Van Ruijvan was a well known man. She was not well known and none of her family were. And if she would have stood up to him and lost her job, then she wouldn't be able to get a job anywhere else because no one would want her then her family would have no money.
Personally, I think Griet should have stuck up for herself against Van Ruijven. I'm all for women not being treated like animals. Even if it costs her her job, she should still have a say for who touches her and where.
ReplyDeleteI think that she should be able to stand up for herself and say what she wants to say no matter what.
ReplyDeleteEven though Van Ruijven is powerful her still has to follow rules. I agree with what Griet did because even though it cost her the job she still told Vermeer that she was being touched by Ruijven. That brings down his social class a lot. Also it shows Ruijven's identity and what he really is.
ReplyDeleteI think Griet should have stuck up for herself. No one should be able to touch her if she does not want them to. i don't care how powerful they are, they have no right to do that.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Van Ruijven is very powerful I think Griet should have stood up for herself. Even though he might ruin her life and her employers life, she should stood up for what she believes in.
ReplyDeleteGriet was in a awkward situation Van Ruijven was attractive to her and had lustful thoughts also he was a wealthy man and a good friend of Vermeers. She should of stood up to Van Rujiven, but he had more power over her. He was a rich man and she was just a maid. Vermeer did attempt to stand up for her, but he did not want to upset his wife.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, and going against what others seem to have said, if you were a female during that time-period you were not respected as anything more than dirt itself. Therefore, sticking up for herself would have been nearly impossible, as she is only a maid whilst Van Ruijven was a well-known man. To stand up for herself and have Van Ruijven possibly seek revenge for his injured pride, would cause not only harm for herself and her job, but also her family. Their pride would be ruined, and their name could become tarnished, especially after the situation of Frans. Standing up for herself may seem incredibly logical in today's time, but I'm nearly positive that a female standing up for herself during this time period could result in something out of a horror movie.
ReplyDeleteI think that Griet should have definitely stood up for herself. Even though she is a maid, and barley has any rights, she is still a human being. She has the right to tell someone if she wants that kind of physical action. On also, I understand why she didn't say anything. She probably would have lost her job, and that's a big deal! She needs that to survive and support her family!
ReplyDeleteI think that Greit attempted to stand up for herself with Van Ruijven. However, she did not make a point of being with people instead of in the coutyard when he was around. Also, by telling Vermeer right away, about what was happening. Instead Vermeer found out for himself, and still painted a picture of Greit for Van Ruijven's personal pleasure. I understand that Griet could not refuse this painting, because Vermeer had already gotten her out of the group painting. However, she did not have to do everything as Vermeer had told her to do. Such as to open her mouth just a little which gave her the look of a prostitute.
ReplyDeleteI think what Griet did in the book was smart because she avoided him by running some errands while not risking her job but I still think she should have mentioned something to Vermeer or Maria Thins because that may have prevented the situation from happening again. It also probably would've ruined Van Ruijven's reputation a little bit too. She also could've stuck up for herself right to Van Ruijven but that probably would've resulted in losing her job. At least, she would be sticking up for herself though. The bottom line is that if you are being touched in a way that you don't like you should tell someone about it, period.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think that she should have just told him to leave her alone. Clearly she was not interested in him and he was a little creepy in my opinion. She definitely should have either told him straight up or told someone else to keep him away from her. She handled it in the worst way possible because not speaking up just causes him to keep bothering her. It is a good thing that at least she avoided him as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI think Griet should have stood up for herself. She was capable to do so. Even though the time era wasn't big on women's rights, she is still a person and deserves respect. She did though avoid him when she could. Vermeer kept his eye on him too, and maybe that's why she didn't speak up. If I were Griet I would have made it very clear to him not to bother me.
ReplyDeleteI think it was smart was Griet did. If she would have stood up for herself then she would have lost her job and her family would have been hated in the town because Van Ruijvan was a well known man. She was not well known and none of her family were. And if she would have stood up to him and lost her job, then she wouldn't be able to get a job anywhere else because no one would want her then her family would have no money.
ReplyDelete