# What Class and Social Status means in The Painted Veil

> The narrative critiques the obsession with social climbing and appearances, embodied by Mrs. Garstin's ambitions and Kitty's initial preoccupation with marrying well, and shows the emptiness of such pursuits.

## Explanation

The narrative critiques the obsession with social climbing and appearances, embodied by Mrs. Garstin's ambitions and Kitty's initial preoccupation with marrying well, and shows the emptiness of such pursuits.

Kitty obsesses over social standing, comparing her family's status to Dorothy Townsend's.

Kitty's discontent with her lowered social standing in Hong Kong highlights the rigid class distinctions and the importance of status in colonial society.

Mrs. Garstin's relentless pursuit of social advancement through her husband's career and her manipulation of social connections.

The narrative emphasizes class distinctions, with Mrs. Garstin lowering her standards from titled gentlemen to professional men, and the value placed on titles like baronet.

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