Ready Reference Treatise: The Painted Veil

By Raja Sharma

“The Painted Veil” by W. Somerset Maugham was first published in 1925. The title of the novel has been taken from “Lift not the painted veil which those who live/call life,” a poem composed by P. B. Shelley.

It is often said that the author was inspired by his study of science and his work as a houseman at ST. Thomas’ Hospital.

Before being published in the form of a novel, “The Painted Veil” was published in serialized form in five issues of Cosmopolitan, between November 1924 and March 1925. After that in the month of May in 1925, it was again serialized in England in Nash’s magazine in eight parts.

Ready Reference Treatise: The Painted Veil
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Major Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Chapter Five: Thematic Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Mar 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311246912

Raja Sharma

Raja Sharma is a retired college lecturer.He has taught English Literature to University students for more than two decades.His students are scattered all over the world, and it is noticeable that he is in contact with more than ninety thousand of his students.

Book preview

Ready Reference Treatise: The Painted Veil

Copyright

Ready Reference Treatise: The Painted Veil

Raja Sharma

Copyright@2016 Raja Sharma

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved

Chapter One: Introduction

The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham was first published in 1925. The title of the novel has been taken from Lift not the painted veil which those who live/call life, a poem composed by P. B. Shelley.

It is often said that the author was inspired by his study of science and his work as a houseman at ST. Thomas’ Hospital.

Before being published in the form of a novel, The Painted Veil was published in serialized form in five issues of Cosmopolitan, between November 1924 and March 1925. After that in the month of May in 1925, it was again serialized in England in Nash’s magazine in eight parts.

The novel is often defined as a proto-feminist work. It primarily depicts the problems that a woman faces and how she overcomes the obstacles in her way. However, she is eventually able to move past the bad choices.

The book also puts emphasis on productive work outside the home for women. The author also explores the dangers which might be there if women are deprived of education and other important opportunities in their lives.

Since there were certain unlikeable people as characters in the novel, a number of lawsuits came up against the author. Initially, the protagonist was given the surname Lane, but a British couple sued him. That couple was living in Hong Kong. Eventually, the author decided to change the name of the protagonist, and he gave him a new surname Fane.

Likewise, another lawsuit followed because there were objections against the name of the colony, Tching-Yen, which was later changed to Hong Kong in the later editions of the novel.

The story is based on a highly significant theme of human psyche, and the novel has several thematic similarities to the novel Heart of Darkness, written by Joseph Conrad in the year 1899.

Three films have been made on this novel. One particular film version starring Greta Garbo earned more than 1.6 million dollars at that time. The other versions of the movie were also highly successful.

Chapter Two: Plot Overview

The story is presented through a third person narrator. There is a limited point of view; however, Kitty is at the centre of the characters.

Kitty Garstin is a young and pretty, upper middle class debutante. She is a highly social woman, and she squanders her fortune at cotillions and social events.

While she is totally submerged in her social activities, her domineering mother tries to find a brilliant match for Kitty.

When Kitty is 25 years old, she happens to have already flirted with several dozens of suitors. She happens to have declined several marriage proposals.

Kitty’s mother is sure that her eldest daughter has already missed her market, requests Kitty to choose Walter Fane as her future husband. He happens to be a bacteriologist and M. D. He happens to be madly in love with Kitty.

Doris happens to be Kitty’s much younger but less attractive sister, but Kitty is panicked because she believes that her sister will be married first. She eventually agrees to marry Walter.

A few days before Doris’s much grander wedding, Walter and Kitty leave for Hong Kong as newlyweds. Walter is going to join his post in Hong Kong.

Having spent a few weeks in Hong Kong, Kitty comes across Charles Townsend, the Assistant Colonial Secretary. He happens to