Abstract:This paper aims to have a full analysis of the ethic view of the great English novelist, William. Somerset. Maugham in his unique China-setting work— The Painted Veil. Three aspects including marriage, love relationship and the source of Maugham’s ethnic views are discussed. As regards to marriage and love relationship, three examples from the book are listed for further illustration, and the third part consists of two major reasons forming Maugham’s ethnic views，i.e. personal experiences and philosophical influences. In order to reach a more objective and reasonable conclusion, this paper produces a reference to Maugham's ethic views on love and marriage based on the novel of The Painted Veil and detailed analysis of the characters in this novel and Maugham's own experience.

Key words: W. S. Maugham; The Painted Veil; ethic view; marriage; love

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction1

  1.1 A Brief Introduction to Maugham and The Painted Veil

  1.2 Literature Review on The Painted Veil

2. An Analysis of Maugham’s Ethnic View on Marriage and Love.3

2.1 Marriage－ Bondage of Life

  2.1.1 The Gastins: Cage without Eacape

  2.1.2 The Townsends: Tool for Interests

  2.1.3 The Fanes: Bondage of Life

2.2 Love－ Sense over Sensibility

  2.2.1 Walter: Death of Sensibility

  2.2.2 Charles: Thriving of Sense

  2.2.3 Kitty: Sense over Sensibility

2.3 Reasons for Maugham’s Ethnic View on Marriage and Love

  2.3.1 Personal Experiences: Childhood and Marriage

  2.3.2 Philosophical Influences: Spinoza and Schopenhauer

3. Conclusion...10

Bibliography.11

Acknowledgements12