Somerset maughams 1925 novel the painted veil, previously filmed rather beautifully in 1934 starring greta garbo and indifferently in 1957 as the seventh sin, is the tale of kitty naomi watts. It comes from the poem by percy bysshe shelley, which describes the unreality of the world and the perhaps unsuccessful quest of a seeker to find some truth in it. In his preface to the novel maugham wrote, that he had felt a desire to use the story as an inspiration, but rewrote it and made a more modern version of it. And so we come to one of the main themes of this novel. At the beginning, kitty does not love her husband walter, but is instead enamored. Somerset maughams novel the painted veil is today recognized as a 20th century classic. A mystery set in the world of seventeenth century italian opera, offering readers a suspenseful glimpse into the lives of those men who made this period of music history so provocative. 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. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, it is the story of the beautiful but shallow young kitty fane. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
While i was in the midst of a somerset maugham obsession triggered by selina hastingss superb biography, i mentioned that i thought the painted veil would be an excellent choice for the literary ladies book club. The painted veil is a 1934 american drama directed by richard boleslawski and starring greta garbo. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is the story of the beautiful but lovestarved kitty fane. Dec 20, 2006 first published in 1925, the painted veil recounts the moral awakening of a vain, careless young woman, kitty ms. 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.
Apr 23, 20 amazon link i recently finished reading the veil by blake k healy. The painted veil of the novel suggests the appearance of daily life. The painted veil essay 1102 words free essay examples and. Vintage classics, 1925, 214 pages first published in 1925, the painted veil is an affirmation of the human capacity to grow, change, and forgive.
Beginning in may 1925, it was serialised in the united kingdom in eight parts in. Plastic key painted gold symbol in persepolis litcharts. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life the novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. The painted veil has the ingredients of a great film, including cinematography alternatively lush and parched and highcaliber actors. 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. The main topic of this text is the veil in north african and middleeastern regions. Several times in the novel, the death of a character is a liberation for those close to them. Stripped of the british society of her youth and the small but effective society she fought so hard to attain in hong kong, she is compelled by her awakening. The painted veil is a 2006 american drama film directed by john curran. The plastic key painted gold is a beautiful object from the outside. View a free sample buy the painted veil study guide. At the beginning, kitty does not love her husband walter, but is instead enamored with the dashing politician charles townsend.
Hawthorne presents the change that occurs in the life of mr. As it was his training was not wasted as there are medical themes running. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the painted veil vintage international. The painted veil is the third screen adaptation of maughams bestselling novel of the same name. Ive seen a lot of flaky stuff on the subject of the unseen realm his book is not like that at all. Edward norton, naomi watts, toby jones, anthony wong chau sang and liev schreiber appear in the leading roles.
I admired the potraiture of people as people complex. The screenplay by ron nyswaner is based on the 1925 novel of the same title by w. The painted veil vintage international kindle edition. The film was produced by hunt stromberg for metrogoldwynmayer. Hooper after he decides to wear a black veil and cover his entire face. Financial analysis of the painted veil 2006 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. First published in 1925, the painted veil recounts the moral awakening of a vain, careless young woman, kitty ms. The painted veil by somerset maugham books the guardian.
He teaches at the bethel atlanta school of supernatural ministry. Questions about somerset maughams novel the painted veil. The queen was all wit and charm, slyly winking at the audience through layers of stiff formality. An elegy on the death of a mad dog by oliver goldsmith 17281774. 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. The painted veil is a 1925 novel by british author w. Recorded in widescreen technical sound by deutsche grammophon, desplats score for the painted veil catches the films mood of morbid romanticism, and anyone who saw the movie and wants to hear the music independent of the images will be more than satisfied with this 54minute soundtrack.
The composer of the scores for girl with a pearl earring 2003 and the queen 2006, the french desplat sets somerset maughams story of moral. The painted veil 2006 original theatrical trailer youtube. I suspect well have plenty to talk about tomorrow night. 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. The painted veil vintage international kindle edition by maugham, w. Nasrine, however, sees the key, which being plastic is actually nothing more than a trinket, as propaganda and. This is the third film adaptation of the maugham book. I have just read one of the somerset maughams novels under the title of the painted veil, which he wrote in 1925. In the novel the veil is painted, which means that it is not an innocent veil the characters are wearing. Jan 19, 2007 t he painted veil is a film that is in love with the idea of love. He made no further claim for himself than that he was a good storyteller. The painted veil is the sort of moviestar vehicle that usually provides for outsized, capital a acting. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet, which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life.
Differences between the painted veil book vs movie page 1. Somerset maugham im pretty sure i have never read a book so depressing and yet so interesting as this book. The painted veil william somerset maugham my book affair. For example, the theme of grief following kittys husbands death spoiler. Set in england and hong kong in the 1920s, the painted veil is. From lift not the painted veil which those who live by persy bysshe shelley 17921822. Major themes critics have often discussed autobiographical aspects of the lifted veil, viewing the story as a reflection of eliots own fears, alienation, doubts, and feelings of guilt. The painted veil remains an important interwar novel as it opened room for other writers to follow suit and sketch woman characters in such a way so as to normalise their being imperfect individuals, who should not be demonised for not meeting unrealistic societal standards of morality. The painted veil is a novel about love, betrayal, and selfsacrifice. Watts, who has been raised for a life of abject uselessness.
The storyline of the painted veil has some major changes between the movie and the novel. The novel was first published in serialised form in five issues of cosmopolitan november 1924 march 1925. Analysis on behind the veil by dhul nun ayyoub essay. The painted veil is a beautifully written affirmation of the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive. Your students can use these discussion questions to navigate these themes, as well as their own thoughts on the novel. Only yesterday i borrowed the book again because i wanted to write a brief comparison between the two. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call. Maugham used this concept to show how all of society and the people living in it are tainted. The painted veil essay 1102 words free essay examples. Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life. A discussion of important themes running throughout the painted veil. The story reflects the occurrences of the life of a clergyman of a village whose name is mr. Hes invited to a party where he espies uppercrust socialite kitty garstin watts, and for walter, its love at first sight.
When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic. When charles heartlessly abandons her, she accepts walters demand to follow him into the cholera. Analysis project of a look behind the veil thesis statement. Somerset maugham was one of the twentieth centurys most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright, critic, and short story writer. For example, a film is considered as a cowboy movie, when on most of the. Imagine debussys pentatonic melodies and saties ironic harmonies coupled with legrands grandly sweeping strings and glass minimalist ostinatos and youve more or less imagined alexandre desplats score for the film the painted veil 2006. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the painted veil by w. The nature of love is one of the primary themes of the novel. The title is taken from percy bysshe shelleys sonnet which begins lift not the painted veil which those who live call life.
May 04, 2011 in my opinion, the painted veil was a great choice for a book discussion group. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. But john currans version is both lush and intimate, a showcase for subtle performances in which china becomes an exotic backdrop for white folks troubles. The ministers black veil the story the ministers black veil has been written by nathaniel hawthorne. It is in such a hurry to get to its second actin which the cuckolded walter fane takes his unfaithful wife into the heart of a cholera epidemic so that they can both discover too late that they actually do love rather than hate one anotherthat we are no more certain why kitty was unfaithful than we are why walter. May 18, 2010 below are some questions to get us started. Kitty fane is a beautiful young woman whose mother has raised her to make a suitable match.
Middleeastern and north african clothing culture is distinguished from other cultures by the veil, a clothing that provokes many reactions from authors and debates between the western and eastern people. Maugham uses a thirdpersonlimited point of view in this story, where kitty garstin is the focal character. Amazon link i recently finished reading the veil by blake k healy. 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. Opinions about the characters varied widely and we talked as much about the authors intent as we did the story. 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. It was short, a fast read, and possessed of an intriguing setting.
The painted veil original motion picture soundtrack. My feeling is that he was better than good he was great. May 04, 20 2006 babies book broken daphne du maurier death edward norton emotional favell films heart hero human jack literature lover medicine movie rebecca the end the painted veil post navigation previous post cranford. 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. At the beginning, kitty does not love her husband walter, but is. The only characters in the novel that wear white, literally speaking, are the nuns. T he painted veil is a film that is in love with the idea of love. In a wild attempt to free herself form her overbearing, condescending mother. I love the 2006 adaptation of the movie, and i read the book for the first time last year. While the chinese characters remain mostly anonymous, either children or suffering disease victims, kitty and walters exclusive. The painted veil is about as far as you can get from the queen and still be in the same aesthetic. The painted veil created the most lively discussion our group has ever had.
1021 622 695 187 936 1243 341 236 494 849 1473 1559 1276 782 1206 293 1276 1380 1376 472 956 470 963 13 667 511 1111 848 405 338 502 1568 750 680 993 1437 331 1555 1334 110 828 1185 110 604 1185 526 818