The story “Magdalena Looking” shows and teaches many things throughout the story. One of the main themes is that you don’t always get what you want. Magdalena and her father, Vermeer, show that because she always wishes for many things and he has many responsibilities that are needed.
Magdalena has always wished for many things throughout her life, although not all of them come true. As she grew up in a large family, many chores were needed to be done. “She wished her chores to be done so she’d have time to race to the town hall every day before supper, or to the Oude Kerk to lift the fallen leaves from her brother’s grave” (11). This is one of her many wishes she made as a child to try to seek happiness outside of her home. As Magdalena grew older, her wishes became more realistic. Later in life, she married a saddle maker, Nicolaes, who was the first man to appreciate her for who she is. “…she wished Nicolaes would have come with her to see her in the days of her sentry post wonder when life and hope were new and full of possibility…” (18). Magdalena wishes for this because she…show more content… Therefore, he had many responsibilities and duties he needed to take care of. In order to pay off debts, taxes, and other needs for his family, he painted many wonderful paintings that were sold in exchange for money. “For days she sat there, still as she could for father, and yet sewing a few stiches so often to satisfy mother” (14). For many, almost all, of his paintings, he had his wife pose so she could be painted for him. Vermeer rarely had time to spend with his children and family because he would always be painting. “She wished her father would take the iceboat to the Schie more often” (11). Magdalena always wanted to go out sailing with her father, but he would never take her or even bother trying. If he didn’t have to paint all the time, he could have been more of a father to his children and had an impact on their