The painted veil the painted veil, favorite movie quotes. Walter vane, an intense bacteriologist, falls helplessly in love with kitty, an impulsive beauty who agrees to marry him only to avoid the humiliation of attending her younger sisters wedding. The painted veil is a brilliant, morally uplifting drama for mature audiences. I remember watching once the razors edge from the mid 1940s, filmed immediately after the publishing of the novel. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. It is a powerful story of a broken marriage healed through love, charity and devotion to duty. Jan 09, 2007 the painted veil is a john curran adaptation of w. Dec 20, 2006 its no surprise that one of the best scenes in the latest and third film iteration of w. The painted veil integrity in writing, the power of conversation, and grief february 29, 2020 marian 15 comments note. We wont necessarily discuss each of these questions in order or in so many words, but these are general ideas and themes for the discussion. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic.
The nature of love is one of the primary themes of the novel. Beautifully written and entertainingly read, it it is well worth listening to more than once. Feeling neglected by her husband, the woman soon falls in love with a handsome diplomatic attache. The painted veil integrity in writing, the power of. Lift not the painted veil which those who live by percy bysshe shelley. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. This is a love story set in the 1920s that tells the story of a young english couple, walter fane edward norton, a middle class doctor and kitty naomi watts, an upperclass woman, who get married for the wrong reasons and relocate to shanghai, where she. Walter vane, an intense bacteriologist, falls helplessly in love with kitty, an impulsive beauty who agrees to marry him only to avoid the humiliation of. She does not really love walter and uses her marriage as an escape from her routine life. Kitty, as a character, is the ideal vessel for this hugely important theme.
Percy bysshe shelley sonnet lift not the painted veil. Lifting the veils in william somerset maughams the. Lifting of illusions and revealing truths we often fall in love. Ultimately, i was pleasantly surprised by the fact that i enjoyed the painted veil as much as i did. Only when it is too late does dymovs wife olga like kitty realize her husbands moral worth and see that he is a far finer man than she had realized. The painted veil is a novel written by w somerset maugham in 1925. At the start of the painted veil, kitty is vain, arrogant and a little airheaded. The novel also inspired a 2006 drama movie of the same name starring edward norton and naomi watts.
Sigmund freud was the founding father of psychoanalysis. Walter fane, a bacteriologist living in china who falls madly in love with her. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 eponymous novel by w. His passion for her is superficial, loving her like a doll in an ibsen.
Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles this is the third film adaptation of the maugham book, following a 1934 film starring greta garbo and herbert. Mar 14, 2019 but some of the writing flowed particularly well to make the moral of the story really hit home. The painted veil 2006 i was surprised to learn from wikipedia that there had been two movie versions of the painted veil before this one, including a 1934 film starring greta garbo. Somerset maugham, with a screenplay by john meehan, salka viertel, and edith fitzgerald, the film is about a woman who accompanies her new husband to china while he conducts medical research. I also want to comment that after watching two of his pieces, curran has something going on with streets in last scenes. While the specifics of the painted veil are different, the themes are clearly present. Kittys book counterpart, however, never falls in love with her. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful, but love starved kitty fane. The painted veil is simple, well told and enjoyable, but i wish there had been more descriptions of this area of china and its people. The painted veil has the ingredients of a great film, including cinematography alternatively lush and parched and highcaliber actors. She does not love her quiet, reserved husband, and barely knows him at all. The biographer richard cordell notes that the book was influenced by maughams study of science and his work as a houseman at st thomas hospital.
Dec 04, 2019 3 reasons you might love the painted veil. Granted that this view from a hopeless romantic can be biased on a topic concerning romance, but hey. The storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w. Somerset maugham, the painted veil is a love story set in the 1920s that tells the story of a young english couple, walter, a middle class doctor and kitty, an. The film chronicles the relationship of walter and kitty fane as they battle an outbreak of cholera in a remote chinese village in the 1920s and seek to restore their marriage. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to a remote region of china ravaged by a cholera epidemic. It also contains strong, positive christian content. And this is certainly a morality tale that deals with themes of love, family, honor, duty and more in a way that packed some punch. Aug 20, 2009 i happened to see the literary adaptation by john curran made in 2006 over the weekend and was deeply moved by the experience.
I admired the potraiture of people as people complex. The couple at the centre of this bleak tale are hopelessly incompatible. Kittys awakening in the painted veil masters thesis. A contextual analysis asl literature in english introduction a veil. Somerset maughams novel the painted veil doesnt happen in the book. The book touched a lot of themes, the ones that stood out for me. Alexandre desplat the painted veil 2006, cd discogs.
Nov 08, 2016 the painted veil, at least the novel version, is the story of kittys introspection and selfimprovement. The painted veil is a novel about love, betrayal, and selfsacrifice. Somerset maugham book, movie and radio program on the steamer that took them up the western river walter read incessantly, but at. Summary set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. Several times in the novel, the death of a character is a liberation for those close to them. Literary aspects are ranging from types of film, film genres, theme.
The painted veil 2006 original theatrical trailer youtube. Somerset maughams novel the painted veil is today recognized as a 20th century classic. Somerset maugham and set against the visually stunning backdrop of china during one. Although the fact that i finished the painted veil in early july also does not bode well. Around the world in 80 books share book recommendations. At the beginning, kitty does not love her husband walter, but is instead enamored. The characters in the painted door are defined by their loyalties and the sacrifices they make for the people they love. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. Walter goes to shanghai where kitty begins an affair with a diplomat, charles townsend.
Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life though unreal shapes be pictured there and it but mimic all we would believe. The painted veil is the story of the beautiful, but lovestarved kitty fane. Around the world in 80 books group reads discussions. The painted veil is both a critical social commentary and deeply. Most probably know of this book due to the 2006 adaptation of it starring naomi watts and edward norton ive seen parts of the movie, so i knew the basic plot, but not the details. The painted veil william somerset maugham my book affair. Later freud rectified and supplemented his earlier theory and proposed the idea of personality. The main thrust of the book is kittys transformation after she and walter husband move to a cholerastricken region and she volunteers in a conventhospital. Aug 18, 2017 the painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. At the beginning, kitty does not love her husband walter, but is. There are many changes, but both the book and the film are exquisite.
Summary set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but love starved kitty fane. The painted veil william somerset maugham this is a book to get lost in, not just in the usual way of books, but in a way that is haunting and will have you musing for days and days, long after you have turned the final page. Ultimately, with all the things it covers, the painted veil is a beautiful story about love found, as in discovered. The 2006 movie starring naomi watts and edward norton is very pretty.
With the exception of a few changes, the film remains relatively close to the source material. The novel itself takes its title from a percy bysshe shelley sonnet that states, lift not the painted veil which those who live call life maugham, ix. In the novel the veil is painted, which means that it is not an innocent veil the characters are wearing. The painted veil has that rare combination of time, place and character that makes a great period drama. But the more i read, the more i felt as though it ran deeper than this. It is a story of love, betrayal, hatred, revenge and redemption. The theme of loyalty and sacrifice in the painted door. Somerset maugham this study guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the painted veil. Somerset maugham, quote from the painted veil one can be very much in love with a woman without wishing to spend the rest of ones life with her. Apr 05, 20 the painted veil is not a fastpaced and bubbly romance.
Obviously then, i wasted no time in buying somerset maughams the painted veil to see how differently the filmmakers had interpreted the story. The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. May 04, 20 i love the 2006 adaptation of the movie, and i read the book for the first time last year. As the story proceeds, kitty gradually realises that there is more to life than. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles. Somerset maugham, which followed the disillusionment and growth of a shallow young socialite named kitty fane. If it is necessary sometimes to lie to others, it is always despicable to lie to oneself. The painted veil was definitely great, changed in a skilfull way but no so much and beautiful in its own, rather different than the novel, way. It is unusual because it tells a story about a married couple who never really share the same love for each other. Oct 01, 2007 the painted veil, a reelsingingstar edward norton, naomi watts. Rather, as this slowburning, oftentimes bitter romance unfolds, it takes patience but is ultimately rewarding. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. The painted veil chapters 17 summary and analysis gradesaver. Lift not the painted veil which those who live poem by.
Sumptuous and moody, the soundtrack to the movie, the painted veil, is one that i have enjoyed listening to over and over again. Kitty believes that townsend is madly in love with her and prepared to divorce his. Jun 07, 2012 the painted veil william somerset maugham this is a book to get lost in, not just in the usual way of books, but in a way that is haunting and will have you musing for days and days, long after you have turned the final page. For your consideration promotional cd for the painted veil track 2 composed by erik satie 18861925 cd packaged in a slim jewel case with white printed cover, front of cd printed with tracklisting. First published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive.
The only characters in the novel that wear white, literally speaking, are the nuns. Since its themes of love, pain, and forgiveness are universal, viewers can relate, at some level or another, to the internal struggles of kitty and walter. Hes invited to a party where he espies uppercrust socialite kitty garstin watts, and for walter, its love at first sight. I will bring print outs of the two poems tomorrow night. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. The painted veil is the story of kitty fane, a beautiful, but thoughtless, shallow, and selfcentered woman. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane. The painted veil discussion questions classics reading group. Walter and kitty fane edward norton and naomi watts in the painted veil, set in the the painted veil with edward norton and naomi watts. Under a soft rain, scene from the painted veil by curran, 2006 the painted veil. Jun 08, 2015 the painted veil 2006 is an adaptation of the novel by w. She is at first flattered and amused by the attentions of a shy and eager young fan, but before long julia is amazed to find herself falling wildly, dangerously, in love.
Having read the original novel by somerset maugham, a stark yet moving tale of a young womans reevaluation of her life and values, the movie was a slightly more romaniticized version of the novel. This study guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the painted veil. The painted veil with edward norton and naomi watts. Somerset maugham im pretty sure i have never read a book so depressing and yet so interesting as this book.
The painted veil is a compelling tale of lust and redemption, a story that begins sordidly and ends profoundly and one that is rich in reality, compassion, and hope. This thesis aims to analyze the awakening and maturity of the heroine kitty in maughams work the painted veil from the perspective of freudian consciousness theory which includes the origin of the unconscious, the id, the ego and superego. The painted veil is a 2006 american drama film directed by john curran. Off stage, however, she is bored with her handsome husband, coquettish and undisciplined. Books audio book month 28, the tuesday alternative 8, theme. The painted veil was an excellent introduction to somerset. Your students can use these discussion questions to navigate these themes, as well as their own thoughts on the novel.
From the prolific british playwright, novelist and short story writer, author of the painted veil, of human bondage. I love the 2006 adaptation of the movie, and i read the book for the first time last year. He encounters a young woman in london, kitty, courts her and marries her. The painted veil study guide contains a biography of w. The novel opens when walter discovers his wifes infidelity. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the painted door, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. It is not a love story, which the 2006 film adaptation starring edward norton and naomi watts might lead you to believe. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but love starved kitty fane. This is a story about love with the heroine, kitty garstin, sacrificing her life with. Maugham used this concept to show how all of society and the people living in it are tainted. It is a morality tale of astonishing depth and humanity. Kitty marries walter, who she does not love, but who is in love with her. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. Somerset maugham love, death, and christian parallels february 28, 2020 marian 4 comments maughams the painted veil is a sordid yet strangely beautiful 1920s novel about betrayal and loyalty during a cholera epidemic.
When her younger sister announces her own engagement to a prosperous duke, kitty panics and accepts the proposal of the very quiet, very shy, dr. Only yesterday i borrowed the book again because i wanted to write a brief comparison between the two. His love of kitty, his commitment to his science, his compassion for the. The painted veil, a reelsingingstar edward norton, naomi watts. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is.