The Painted Veil:The Painted Veil:A Structural AnalysisA Structural Analysis

ASL ~ Literature in EnglishASL ~ Literature in English

Foreshadowing Foreshadowing

KittyKitty’’s first meeting with Charles s first meeting with Charles Townsend Townsend

Watching a play at a Chinese theater Watching a play at a Chinese theater TownsendTownsend’’s translation of the storyline: s translation of the storyline:

– About a young girl weeping About a young girl weeping – For her being sold into a life of slavery and For her being sold into a life of slavery and

taken away to a foreign land taken away to a foreign land – For her being condemned to this life in which For her being condemned to this life in which

she will never find happiness, never be loved she will never find happiness, never be loved or love in return or love in return

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

A striking description of the life that A striking description of the life that Kitty will soon know:Kitty will soon know:– Her and TownsendHer and Townsend’’s affair begins shortly s affair begins shortly

after watching this play after watching this play – Soon taken away by her husband, Soon taken away by her husband,

Walter, to a very foreign land where she Walter, to a very foreign land where she feels enslaved, alone, unloved and feels enslaved, alone, unloved and unable to loveunable to love

– As a punishment of her infidelity As a punishment of her infidelity

Explicit PlotExplicit Plot

Kitty and Walter get married, but she Kitty and Walter get married, but she has an affair with Charles Townsend. has an affair with Charles Townsend.

Walter takes revenge by forcing her Walter takes revenge by forcing her to accompany him to a disease-to accompany him to a disease-ridden Chinese village where she will ridden Chinese village where she will feel miserable. feel miserable.

However, misery awakens However, misery awakens enlightenment, reconciliation and enlightenment, reconciliation and redemption. redemption.

Implicit PlotImplicit Plot

The motive behind KittyThe motive behind Kitty’’s affair: s affair: – Marrying Walter for the wrong reasons Marrying Walter for the wrong reasons – Kitty never loved Walter, respected him Kitty never loved Walter, respected him

or had any interest in himor had any interest in him– Getting married to spite her motherGetting married to spite her mother– KittyKitty’’s character: selfish, impulsive and s character: selfish, impulsive and

rebellious rebellious – Her affair with Townsend: to rebel Her affair with Townsend: to rebel

against her husband whom she didnagainst her husband whom she didn’’t t lovelove

Implicit PlotImplicit Plot

WalterWalter’’s motive for avenging Kittys motive for avenging Kitty’’s affair:s affair:– by taking her to a cholera-infested village by taking her to a cholera-infested village – Instead of bursting into the bedroom when he Instead of bursting into the bedroom when he

knew his wife was cheating on him knew his wife was cheating on him – Walter as malicious and calculating, rather Walter as malicious and calculating, rather

than confrontational than confrontational – Decision upon cold, calculated punishment by Decision upon cold, calculated punishment by

enslaving his wife into a life where she would enslaving his wife into a life where she would be miserablebe miserable

Sub-plotsSub-plots

The relationship between their neighbor The relationship between their neighbor Waddington and his Chinese wife Waddington and his Chinese wife – WaddingtonWaddington’’s affection and his wifes affection and his wife’’s s

admiration towards himadmiration towards him– Forcing Kitty to examine her own relationship Forcing Kitty to examine her own relationship

with Walter with Walter Motives of the French nuns operating the Motives of the French nuns operating the

orphanageorphanage– To serve GodTo serve God’’s will to serve others with love s will to serve others with love

while one has itwhile one has it– Help Kitty become more self-aware Help Kitty become more self-aware

Ending of the FilmEnding of the Film Walter and Kitty are able to find love and Walter and Kitty are able to find love and

acceptance of each other toward the end of the acceptance of each other toward the end of the filmfilm

Portrayal of raw human emotion, anger, Portrayal of raw human emotion, anger, resentment, guilt and finally acceptanceresentment, guilt and finally acceptance

Walter and Kitty are never happy in the filmWalter and Kitty are never happy in the film A somber acknowledgement of growing respect A somber acknowledgement of growing respect

for each other that did not exist before the for each other that did not exist before the betrayalbetrayal

Under the life-threatening Cholera, they are able Under the life-threatening Cholera, they are able to put their bitterness aside, find companionship to put their bitterness aside, find companionship and mutual understanding and mutual understanding

Imagery Imagery

Breathtaking images of an idyllic, Breathtaking images of an idyllic, seemingly mythical Chinese seemingly mythical Chinese landscape landscape – Idyllic beauty = Immense suffering Idyllic beauty = Immense suffering – The cholera epidemic and political The cholera epidemic and political

turmoil ravages the landscape turmoil ravages the landscape

ImageryImagery

The scenery: symbolic for Walter and The scenery: symbolic for Walter and KittyKitty’’s relationship s relationship – Seemingly a healthy young married Seemingly a healthy young married

couple to those they initially meetcouple to those they initially meet– Just as the perfect Chinese landscape Just as the perfect Chinese landscape – Immense suffering, grief and turmoil Immense suffering, grief and turmoil

inside inside – Always feel like a foreigner in an Always feel like a foreigner in an

unfamiliar land uncertain of what will unfamiliar land uncertain of what will happen next happen next

Colour and LightingColour and Lighting The beginning of the film: gorgeous bright The beginning of the film: gorgeous bright

colorscolors After the betrayal: more muted colors After the betrayal: more muted colors A lot of dead colors like grays and very A lot of dead colors like grays and very

drab blues: drab blues: – Impact of sadness, loneliness and uneaseImpact of sadness, loneliness and unease

Early in the film (before the betrayal): Early in the film (before the betrayal): bright and cheerful lightingbright and cheerful lighting

Post-affair: dim lighting filled with shadows Post-affair: dim lighting filled with shadows – Creating an atmosphere of fear and Creating an atmosphere of fear and

uncertainty and a sense of powerlessness uncertainty and a sense of powerlessness

Conclusion Conclusion

A powerful and provocative tale of A powerful and provocative tale of betrayal, revenge and the immense betrayal, revenge and the immense emotional havoc that infidelity reaps emotional havoc that infidelity reaps on relationshipson relationships

A story about self-awarenessA story about self-awareness A cautionary tale to be weary of the A cautionary tale to be weary of the

““painted veilpainted veil””

ConclusionConclusion

Do not fall in love with an illusionDo not fall in love with an illusion Get to truly know your love-interest Get to truly know your love-interest

to avoid disenchantment and pain to avoid disenchantment and pain when the truths are revealedwhen the truths are revealed

Ending: a somber tale of betrayal, Ending: a somber tale of betrayal, consequence, self-discovery and the consequence, self-discovery and the difficult road to redemption difficult road to redemption

~ The End ~~ The End ~