The Glassmaker

“A woman tending her own furnace: this was something new.”

This quotation captures the young Orsola’s surprise upon realizing Maria Barovier’s autonomy and skill as an artisan. When Orsola is a young girl in the late 1400s, she does not see many examples of women pursuing careers or achieving independence. This passage reveals that Maria’s trailblazing choices will have a profound effect on Orsola’s mindset, and Maria’s efforts will establish opportunities that will benefit Orsola later in her life.

“They are inconsequential, and women can make them because of that.”

In this scene, Maria Barovier explains to Orsola why it is socially acceptable for women to make beads, even though they are discouraged from making more prestigious forms of glassware. The quotation shows that Maria functions as a mentor at the beginning of Orsola’s career. The older woman dispenses hard-earned wisdom, and this connection between the two characters also reveals how women learn from each other and find ways to work around patriarchal restrictions.

“It upset Orsola to see his goblet in pieces: his dream gone, set aside for pragmatic business.”

This quotation occurs when Marco smashes an elaborate goblet shortly after taking over the glass workshop upon the death of his father. Marco loved designing the goblet, but it is impractical and won’t sell. Marco’s decision to break the goblet symbolizes his prioritization of pragmatism over creativity and self-fulfillment.