The Miniaturist

Nella overhears Marin arguing with Johannes. Marin says he is neglecting Nella and asks him how much money he has given Jack. Johannes claims he is paying Jack to guard the sugar in the warehouse.

Nella allows Peebo to fly around the great hall. Meanwhile, Cornelia tries to persuade Nella that Nella is a valued family member. Nella is unconvinced but has no desire to return to her life in Assendelft. She is also curious about the miniaturist’s intent.

Telling Cornelia about the love note in Marin’s room, Nella asks if her sister-in-law ever loved anyone. Cornelia admits she gleans most of her knowledge from listening at “keyholes.” The maid reveals that Frans Meermans fell in love with Marin years ago. As the Brandts’ parents were dead (their mother died shortly after giving birth to Marin), Johannes was his sister’s protector. When Frans asked his permission to propose to Marin, Johannes refused. Marin only learned of her brother’s intervention once Frans had married her friend, Agnes.

Cornelia suggests that Frans married Agnes for the wealth created by her sugar plantation. Agnes inherited the plantation, as her father failed in his attempts to produce male heirs. Cornelia believes Agnes is in love with Frans, but his continued love for Marin has resulted in their marriage being childless. She claims that Frans sends Marin gifts of meat as a sign of his devotion. Nella returns to the great hall to find Peebo has escaped through an open window.

For the rest of the day, Nella and Cornelia fruitlessly search for Peebo. Nella knows that her parakeet will not survive the freezing temperatures. The next morning, Johannes leaves flowers outside Nella’s door. An accompanying note explains that the flowers represent friendship and “restoration.”

Nella receives another parcel from the miniaturist containing eight dolls with the message, “THINGS CAN CHANGE” (181). The dolls are likenesses of Nella, Johannes, Marin, Cornelia, Otto, Agnes, Frans, and Jack. There is also a miniature of Peebo. Each doll features a defining characteristic: Nella holds an empty birdcage, a large bag of money weighs down Johannes, Cornelia makes a hushing gesture with her finger to her lips, Otto is lean and wears “simple servant clothes” (181), Marin’s dress is lined with fur, Agnes holds a sugar loaf, Frans has a large brimmed hat and sword, and Jack has a leather jacket and a “cherry red” mouth. Looking out of her window, Nella thinks she sees the miniaturist walking away. She shouts out, but the woman disappears.

Nella runs downstairs to follow the miniaturist but stops when she hears Marin and Johannes arguing. Marin warns that the Meermanses’ sugar will become damp if it stays in the warehouse any longer. She tells her brother that she has ordered a barge, and his things are packed and ready. When Nella interrupts them, Johannes says he is going to Venice to sell the sugar. Nella sees her husband off with the flowers he bought in her hair. Johannes is moved when she tells him they symbolize “restoration.”

Late that night, Nella hangs the golden key around her doll’s neck and decides to go in search of the miniaturist. As she prepares to leave the house, she hears Marin taking a bath. Spying through the keyhole, Nella is surprised that her sister-in-law is less slender than she appears. She also notices that Marin has a bowl of candied walnuts close by. Nella watches as Marin shreds her love note into the bath water and cries. Confused, Nella returns to bed.

As the waters of the canal freeze, various items float to the surface, including dead kittens and a limbless man. Nella is disappointed not to catch sight of the miniaturist while Christmas shopping with Cornelia. Visiting the confectioner’s shop, they learn from Hanna that the burgomasters have banned gingerbread and puppets.

Weeks go by, and Nella receives nothing more from the miniaturist. One day Marin angrily confronts Nella with the doll of Jack and throws it out of the window. When Jack’s doll lands on the icy canal, Nella feels uneasy about leaving it there. She unsuccessfully encourages Rezeki to retrieve it. The next morning, Nella looks out the window and sees Jack’s doll propped against the door.

Nella’s mother invites her daughter to return to Assendelft for Christmas. Marin is relieved when Nella decides she will not go. Despite Marin’s concerns about appearances, Nella hangs out of her window to hear nearby musicians playing.

Nella writes a letter to the miniaturist asking her to send a verkeerspel board (a Dutch game). She sees Otto leaving the house alone and follows him to the Old Church. While Nella watches Otto praying from behind a pillar, Agnes surprises her. Nella assures Agnes that Johannes is in Venice selling her sugar. However, Agnes angrily reveals that all the sugar remains in the warehouse and will soon mold, rendering it worthless.

Distracted from delivering her letter to the miniaturist, Nella goes home to tell Marin the news. The house door is wide open, and she sees Jack inside.

Jack gives Nella a package from the miniaturist and calls out for Johannes. Nella reveals her husband is in Venice, and Jack suggests Johannes is there searching for young men. Jack blames Marin for Johannes’s decision to cut him out of his life. When he slashes a painting with his dagger, Marin approaches Jack and challenges him to kill her. Jack raises his dagger, and Marin slaps him across the face.

Jack takes the money Marin offers to pay him off. He then forces on her a prolonged kiss. Otto returns, and Jack taunts him, claiming that Johannes plans to dismiss him. Rezeki runs toward Jack, barking aggressively. Jack stabs the dog in the head. During a scuffle with Otto, Jack is hurt. He pretends to be dying before pulling the dagger out of the wound and declaring it evidence of “attempted murder.”