The Painted Veil · Theme
East vs. West
How The Painted Veil develops East vs. West.
The novel contrasts Western materialism and social conventions with Eastern spirituality and simplicity, as seen in Kitty's encounters with the nuns, the Manchu woman, and the Taoist philosophy discussed by Waddington.
Where it surfaces
- Arrival at Mei-tan-fu
Kitty's Western perspective struggles to interpret the Eastern landscape, which feels alien and menacing.
- XXXII
The contrast between the Western missionaries' dining room and the nearby Chinese city in terror from cholera highlights the cultural and physical divide.
- XXXIII
The mystical, alien beauty of the Eastern landscape stands in stark contrast to Kitty's Western sensibilities, prompting a spiritual reaction.
- XXXVII
Waddington's adoption of Chinese perspectives and his critique of European life introduce Kitty to a different worldview.
- XXXIX
The convent is described as 'a little bit of France' in the midst of a Chinese city, highlighting the cultural and geographical divide.
- L
Kitty's Western perspective contrasts with the nun's simple, rural French background and the Chinese setting, highlighting cultural differences.
- LI
Waddington's relationship with a Manchu princess and the cultural clash between French nuns and Chinese society highlight East-West tensions.
- LIII
Kitty, a Westerner, observes the fading Buddhist faith and decaying monastery, highlighting the contrast between Eastern spirituality and Western modernity.
- LIV
The contrast between Kitty's Harrington Gardens background and the alien love story of Waddington and the Manchu princess highlights cultural and spiritual divides.
- LVIII
Kitty contrasts the crude Western ideals with the profound, mysterious Eastern way of life embodied by the Manchu woman.