The title refers to the veil of illusion and deception that the characters wear, particularly Kitty, the main female protagonist.
Here's a breakdown:
* Literal Veil: The novel opens with Kitty's visit to a temple in Hong Kong, where she sees a veiled woman. This literal veil is a symbol of hidden truths and mystery.
* Figurative Veil: Kitty, beautiful and alluring, is initially portrayed as someone who lives a glamorous life, focused on pleasure and social status. She hides her true self behind a facade of beauty and charm, unaware of her shallowness and lack of substance.
* Walter's "Painted Veil": The novel's title also alludes to Walter Fane, Kitty's husband, who is a bacteriologist working in a cholera-ridden village in China. Walter uses his work as a "veil" to hide his own emotional pain and the fact that he is deeply hurt by his wife's infidelity.
* The Veil of Society: The novel explores the hypocrisy and moral complexities of society, where people often present a "painted veil" to the world, hiding their true motives and flaws.
Ultimately, the "painted veil" represents the masks that people wear to protect themselves and to present a fabricated version of themselves to the world. As the story unfolds, the characters slowly shed their veils, confronting their true selves and the consequences of their actions.