ABSTRACT
In this chapter, several relationships were discussed in which the exchange of gifts was important. Depending on the character of the relationship, the exchange of gifts therein was made either more or less explicit. Under normal circumstances, gifts were offered and received as a matter of course, without any explicit references to the exchange. Only in more problematic relationships would the rhetoric of the gift come into play. In those cases, the gift, or at least the rhetoric of the gift, was used as a means to force the other individual to behave in a way that brought benefit to the donor. Therewith, the gift became an instrument because by accepting the gift, the recipient – at least in the eyes of the donor – was forced to change his behaviour or fulfil a certain duty. This is the case in the problematic relationship between Herman Verbeeck and his brother and to a certain extent, in the relationship between P.C. Hooft and his servant Aeltje. Still, within these two relationships, the gift may have at the same time been a token of affection. Both Pieter Verbeeck and Hooft may have had the best interests of their brother and servant at heart.
