Girl with a Pearl Earring - Essay Example

Although there are a few differences between the book and the film, the idea becomes apparent. In the field of adaptation of novels to movies, changes are inevitable. For instance, themes might change. As such, Webber deviates at some point from Chevalier’s original them analysis. This paper presents a detailed analysis of how the book and film differ in plot as evident by Griet’s character. Changing the plot of a story is one of the things that scriptwriters often do in the adaptation of novels to screenplay production.

This difference usually brings out a change in the entire perception of the story and the main characters. When information is missing to explain the behavior, responses of characters, the audiences perceive the piece of work differently. This happens in Webber’s film adaptation of Chevalier’s story. As he ventures in altering the plot, he prompts the viewer to perceive Griet differently. Since all the changes in plot revolve around her life, a reader of the novel and a viewer of the film will define Griet differently.

The book uses a first person narration of Griet, the house help who accorded the protagonist role by Chevalier. This narration moves the reader to express empathy to Griet because events in her life turn out to disappoint her. Chevalier highlights the tragedies that strike Griet’s family forcing her to turn into working to sustain her family (Chevalier 64-68). However, these events do not appear in the filmsetting. The film emphasizes on the things that happen in Vermeer’s house (Webber 1:1-10).

Although the film focuses on highlighting the emotions of the characters in chevalier’s story, the missing parts of the story line hinder the viewer the opportunity to understand where Griet is coming from before the Vermeer’s setting. It becomes possible to judge Griet differently. Through the details that Chevalier presents, it becomes evident that Griet had to result to working as a house help because of the father’s inability to continue working (Chevalier 7-8). In addition, through such background information, the reader of the story is able to relate with her attributes in Vermeer’s house.

Webber does not highlight such background information in Griet’s life and this reduces the viewer’s ease to understand the character better. The fact that Griet makes a decision in the book to leave the house, while in the film she is thrown out of the house present a variance in the mode of presentation. I believe that the in the book, Griet is seen as a character with self conscious by making worthwhile decision. On the other hand, I can argue that in the film, she proves inability to make firm decisions like accepting to put on the pearl earrings despite the dangers attached.

This is a good example of Webber’s introduction of change in the plot. This difference helps each reader to make a perception of Griet as the main character. The film ends up lacking details that build the personality of Griet. For example, if the film provided its viewers with details of Griet’s family as Chevalier does in her original story, the viewer would have an easier time understanding the decisions made by Griet. This can result to varied misjudgments from the viewer. In every film adaptation, changes to the original story usually occur.

Scriptwriters often choose to make changes for various reasons. Webber made changes to Chevalier’