Why is the movie "The painted veil" named such??

Question

saw the movie "The painted veil" last night and neither myself nor the lady I saw the movie with could figure out what a painted veil has to do with the story.Why is that the title?? It was a really good movie though. Please help me so I can sleep. Thanks!!

Answer 1

It is based on the book "The Painted Veil" and Wikipedia gives this explanation to the title of the book...

The Painted Veil is a 1925 novel by W. Somerset Maugham. The title is taken from Percy Bysshe Shelley's sonnet "Lift Not The Painted Veil Which Those Who Live."


Lift not the Painted Veil

Lift not the painted veil which those who live
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there,
And it but mimic all we would believe
With colours idly spread, -- behind, lurk Fear
And Hope, twin Destinies; who ever weave
Their shadows, o'er the chasm, sightless and dread.
I knew one who had lifted it -- he sought,
For his lost heart was tender, things to love,
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught
The world contains, the which he could approve.
Through the unheeding many he did move,
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove
For truth, and like the preacher found it not.

-- Percy Bysshe Shelley