Re-Reading Classics: "The Painted Veil" by W. Somerset Maugham

I first read The Painted Veil in college for an English class. At the time, I did not enjoy it. I did not appreciate the beauty of Maugham's language and I definitely did not understand the issues he raised in this short but very poignant novel. Now, re-reading it in my 40s, I finally appreciate both the depth of the message and the beauty of its execution.

The main character Kitty Fane is a recently married, bored, shallow and love-starved Englishwoman living in Hong Kong. She did not marry for love. Her mother had once had high hopes for Kitty to make a great match. But Kitty, while pretty and popular, failed to secure a marriage proposal from an acceptable suitor. Thus, in her late 20s, with a married younger sister, and faced with increasing pressure from her mother, Kitty accepts Walter Fane, an unremarkable scientist who takes her to the place of his job in Hong Kong.

Dissatisfied with her station in life and her marriage, Kitty falls in love with a married man. Walter of course finds out and is absolutely devastated by his wife's unfaithfulness. Moreover, he is crushed by her choice of a lover: a selfish cynic known for his numerous dalliances. Kitty is also disillusioned once her lover refuses to divorce his wife and marry her instead. Walter at this point resolves that they should go to a region of China with a raging cholera epidemic.

Even though the world seems to be crashing around Kitty, faced with heartache, disappointment and also very real human suffering, she undergoes a complete character transformation. For the first time, she sees her husband in a different light and also reevaluates her own choices and motivations. This is a story of redemption, forgiveness and overcoming disappointment and loss. Even though Kitty is not a very likable character, I found her to be quite relatable. I credit Maugham's talent for the ability to make her so lifelike and complex. 5 out of 5 stars. A powerful and beautiful read.