# Dorothy Townsend — The Painted Veil character guide

> Dorothy Townsend in The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Townsend, Dorothy

**First appearance:** 0007-v

## Snapshot

Charles Townsend's wife, whose polished respectability in Hong Kong society makes her the last person anyone suspects of being married to a practiced adulterer.

## Who they are

Dorothy Townsend occupies the securest seat in colonial Hong Kong: wife of the Assistant Colonial Secretary, hostess of impeccable dinners, a woman whose reputation is as smooth as lacquer. The irony is that her husband's affairs flourish precisely because her dignity is so unassailable — no one, least of all Dorothy, seems willing to look too closely. She matters to the early arc as the silent standard against which Kitty measures her own recklessness, and as the reason Charles will never leave the life he has built.

## Relationships

### [Kitty Fane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/kitty_fane)

_social_

A polite but distant acquaintance, with Dorothy unaware of Kitty's affair with her husband Charles.

### [Charles Townsend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/charles_townsend)

_family_

A superficially stable marriage built on Townsend's deceit and Dorothy's oblivious dignity.

### [Walter Fane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/walter_fane)

_social_

A polite, superficial social acquaintance in colonial Hong Kong.

### [Waddington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/waddington)

_social_

A minimal, indirect acquaintance through the colonial social circle.

### [Kitty Fane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/kitty_fane)

_social_

A polite but distant acquaintance, with Dorothy unaware of Kitty's affair with her husband Charles.

### [Kitty Fane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/kitty_fane)

_social_

A polite but distant acquaintance, with Dorothy unaware of Kitty's affair with her husband Charles.

### [Charles Townsend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/charles_townsend)

_family_

A superficially stable marriage built on Townsend's deceit and Dorothy's oblivious dignity.

### [Waddington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/waddington)

_social_

A minimal, indirect acquaintance through the colonial social circle.

### [Waddington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/waddington)

_social_

A minimal, indirect acquaintance through the colonial social circle.

### [Walter Fane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/walter_fane)

_social_

A polite, superficial social acquaintance in colonial Hong Kong.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/iii)

Kitty criticizes Dorothy's appearance, manner, and social standing, feeling threatened by her.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/xiv)

Mrs. Townsend hosts the dinner party, greeting guests casually and assigning seating; she had previously described Kitty as 'quite a nice little thing. Actressy.'

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/xvii)

Kitty speculates that Dorothy will not mind divorcing Charlie.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/xxv)

Dorothy is discussed as Townsend's wife whom he respects and depends on. He believes she would forgive him if he confessed.

### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/xxxv)

Praised by Waddington as able and well-bred, the real brains behind Townsend's success.

### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/xxxvi)

Implied to have chaffed Charlie about Kitty's infatuation and found Kitty second-rate.

### [LXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/lxxi)

Meets Kitty at the dock, insists she stay with her and Charlie, and confesses her earlier misjudgment of Kitty.

### [LXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/lxxii)

Arranges Kitty's stay and mediates the encounter with Charlie.

### [LXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/lxxiii)

Present at luncheon, maintains a faint air of superiority that now includes Kitty as a bond.

### [LXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/lxxiv)

Hosts Kitty and receives a letter from Waddington praising Kitty's work.

### [LXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/lxxvi)

Visits Kitty in her room, mistaking her tears for grief over Walter, and offers sympathy.

### [LXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/lxxvii)

Dorothy is kind and supportive, offering help to Kitty and informing her of the ship's departure. She remains unaware of the affair's continuation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters/dorothy_townsend
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_painted_veil_se/characters