An Interpretation Of Maugham’s Naturalism In The Painted Veil

William Somerset Maugham, a famous novelist, playwright and essayist in England,enjoyed great popularity both at home and abroad. He had yielded tremendous worksthroughout his whole life, with an expansion in almost all the fields and was equallytitled as an accomplished writer with Charles Dickens in England. His writing wasfeatured as simplicity, clarity, distinct characters and dramatic plots, which had appealedto the taste of large quantities of readers from all walks of life. Moreover, he was skilledin portraying the society and human nature with his keen observation and a shrewdunderstanding, which had earned him a great reputation. He was regarded as one of themost popular writers in the first half of the20thcentury. Most of his representative works,including Liza of Lambeth, The Moon and Sixpence, Of Human Bondage, The Razor’sEdge, had won universal praise worldwide and served as a reference for literary creationand social reforms in the modern society. The Painted Veil was even adapted into a filmin several languages. Maugham enjoyed his great prestige in his old age, and he wasgranted the title of “Knight of Chivalric Order” by Oxford University in England andToulouse University in France. In addition, Queen of England conferred him with“Companion of Honor” in1954, and he was entitled to be a member of Royal Society ofLiterature.The naturalistic ideas embodied in Maugham’s works were greatly influenced by thetransition of the times, the intensive conflicts of the scientific and philosophical conceptsas well as his own life experiences at that time. Maugham was long been known as thespokesman of traditions. And most of his ideas reflected the real existential state of thewesterners in the Victorian period, who suffered from the spiritual infertility, corruptionand confusion after the wars. This thesis blazes a new trail to interpret Maugham’sideological changes in the view of naturalism and presents his innovation andbreakthrough on naturalism from the perspective of the paradox of existence, theconflicts between tradition and modernity as well as the alienation of human nature. Itdeclares clearly the role both the natural and social qualities of mankind have played insocial life and presents the existential living environment and their spiritual explorationof modern people. It saves modern people from confusion by offering a prescription forspiritual salvation and an aspiration to create self perfection. The thesis consists of three parts: introduction, main body and conclusion.The introduction gives a brief summary of Maugham and his works, the studiescarried out at home and abroad as well as his naturalism tendency to put forward hisliterary point of view.The main body is composed of three chapters:The first chapter describes the definition, the origins and development of naturalism.It also clearly depicts the major characteristics of naturalism and Maugham’s naturalismtendency. The Painted Veil was laurelled as one of the most representative works thatprobed deeply into humanity, which was imprinted with the ideologies of the Frenchnaturalist Zola. Zola put an emphasis on the authenticity as well as the integration ofliterature and science. He was good at analyzing the society and humanity with calmnessand meticulousness. Maugham inherited and developed the naturalism from him in acritical transitional period of time, and displayed his anti-tradition so as to build a bridgeto modernity.The second chapter is designed to analyze the naturalism reflected in The PaintedVeil. Maugham’s naturalism found its expression in three aspects: Firstly, it describes therelationship between human beings and nature. The natural attribute determines thephysiological instincts of mankind, persistent in pursuing sexual passions and materialwealth. Meanwhile, the philosophical fatalism and the biological determinism belittlemankind in front of the powerful nature. The westerners become more passive and turn tothe east for a prescription to emancipation. Secondly, it presents the relationship betweenhuman beings and themselves. The rapid development and material prosperity estrangedpeople with masks. They are overwhelmed by indifference, selfishness and greed, and themistrust and loss of faith throw them into a great panic. Besides, Maugham’s pessimisticviewpoint on marriage is portrayed most vividly in this chapter. Last but not least, itshows deeply the relationship between human beings and the society. The prevailingconsumerism and traditional conventions confine people with great solitude andconfusion. The spiritual wasteland and absence of beliefs of the westerners hold apanoramic view.The third chapter places extra emphasis on Maugham’s innovation and breakthroughof naturalism. Transitioning from the tradition to modernity, Maugham gives lift the naturalism to expose the society and humanity. His innovations are portrayed mainly inthree aspects: Firstly, it explores the paradox between existence and nihility. He gives adelicate brush of the social attribute of mankind instead of the original emphasis on theirnatural attribute. He sketches a contour of mankind, struggling to seek individual identityand meaning of life with persistent self-perfection. Secondly, it analyzes the conflictbetween tradition and modernity. Struggling in the whirlpool of the times, all thecharacters start to re-examine themselves, transforming from unethical betrayal topersistent beliefs. Lastly, it exposes the social absurdity and human alienation. ThePainted Veil enrolls the countless aspects of the western society in the Victorian period oftime. In the time of material abundance and massive employment of machines, people areenslaved by the machines and their desires, alienated from their true nature and becomeempty and numb in spirit. Confused with the living situation, the characters go on ajourney to self-discovery and spiritual exploration and reveal the veil of human naturewith purified and sublimed spirit.The conclusion is designed to sums up the whole thesis and elevates Maugham’sliterary point of view as well as his caring humanity. It gives a high evaluation onMaugham’s realistic significance. The20thcentury tortures people with solitude,absurdity, disillusionment and alienation. It is of great necessity for them to get close tonature and pursue a spiritual sublimation by getting rid of the bondage and seekingfreedom and individuality. It ranks the sole prescription for mankind to solve theirspiritual crisis. His naturalistic viewpoint provides an instructive significance for theharmonious relationship between human beings nature, and leaves a far-reaching andprofound effect on people’s self transcendence with a higher spiritual pursuit.