The Painted Veil · Character

Doris

Kitty's younger sister, who marries a baronet and is favored by their mother.

minor

First appearance: i

Doris's tie to Kitty Fane is one of the pressures that moves The Painted Veil—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Kitty's younger sister, whose engagement to a wealthy man triggers Kitty's hasty marriage to Walter.

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With Kitty Fane (family): Sibling rivalry with Doris being the more sensible, conventionally successful sister, causing Kitty's jealousy. With Walter Fane (family): A distant brother-in-law relationship, with Doris…

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See Doris in i

Character Web

7 connections

A slice of how Doris sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Social
Other

Character groups

Hong Kong and Mei-tan-fu key figures
Minor supporting characters
Protagonist

+2 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this excerpt, Kitty reaches an emotional and psychological peak by confronting her own shame and humility i…

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Relationships

Kitty Fane
family · negative
Sibling rivalry with Doris being the more sensible, conventionally successful sister,… How this plays out →
Walter Fane
family · ambivalent
Mother Superior
social · neutral
Walter Fane
family · ambivalent
Kitty Fane
family · negative
Sibling rivalry with Doris being the more sensible, conventionally successful sister,… How this plays out →
Kitty Fane
family · negative
Sibling rivalry with Doris being the more sensible, conventionally successful sister,… How this plays out →

Kitty Fane
Sibling rivalry with Doris being the more sensible, conventionally successful sister, causing Kitty's jealousy.
Walter Fane
A distant brother-in-law relationship, with Doris viewing Walter as a respectable but unremarkable man.
Mother Superior
A minimal, indirect acquaintance through Kitty's reports of the convent.
Walter Fane
A distant brother-in-law relationship, with Doris viewing Walter as a respectable but unremarkable man.
Kitty Fane
Sibling rivalry with Doris being the more sensible, conventionally successful sister, causing Kitty's jealousy.
Kitty Fane
Sibling rivalry with Doris being the more sensible, conventionally successful sister, causing Kitty's jealousy.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Doris in i

In the story

Doris appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Painted Veil
Kitty's younger sister, whose engagement to a wealthy man triggers Kitty's hasty marriage to Walter.
VII
Mentioned indirectly as another daughter sharing the same indifferent and contemptuous attitude toward their father.
VIII
Doris, Kitty's younger sister, becomes engaged to Geoffrey Dennison, a medical baronet, despite her plain appearance.
X
Doris's engagement to Geoffrey Dennison is announced, intensifying Kitty's sense of competition and failure.
XI
Kitty compares herself to her younger sister Doris, who is to be married in November. Kitty's desire to avoid being a bridesmaid and to escape Doris's overshadowing wedding contributes to her acceptance.
LXI
Kitty thinks of Doris's near-death experience in childbirth and her mother's satisfaction at the birth of an heir.
LXXVIII
Kitty's sister writes to her about their mother's operation and her own pregnancy.
LXXIX
Kitty's sister, who arrives weeping dramatically over their mother's death.
LXXX
Mentioned as Kitty's sister, who has a son and lives in London.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Doris unlock in the free preview.

See Doris in i

See Doris in The Painted Veil