The Painted Veil

It took me a long time to warm up to this book, about 90 pages, in fact. As it's not even 250 pages long, that's a sizable warm-up period. I suspect that the original editors didn't do such a good job, but, since it is at this point a book with a history, their original mistakes were left (lots of run-on sentences, a word missing from a sentence here and there, you get the idea). Also, it struck me as a trashy romance novel with no admirable characters. I was dismayed, as I generally trust recommendations from Heath Misley, a compatriot from my Wasting Time in the Western Tradition days in Manchester. So, I gritted my teeth, and pushed on. And I'm so glad I did.

I know a movie was made based on this book. I think I even saw it a long time ago, but I don't remember much of it. Do yourself a favor, though, and read the book, even if you have already seen the movie. I don't want to say too much about it because I don't want to give anything away (there were a lot of things that surprised me as I was reading, and I want you to be surprised, too). But, why should you read it? It admirably handles the problem of human weakness, pettiness, silliness and selfishness. All of the characters are so real, and even uncomfortably so. It's never pleasant to realize that a writer so clearly understands human failings. It's rather like when you go to mass and come away feeling like the sermon was written with your unholy soul as a target. But, it's also comforting to know you're not the only one who's ever been an idiot, to whatever degree that might have been. Maybe we're not all so tortured as the whiskey-priest in The Power and the Glory, but a failing is a failing. So, with that vague summary in mind, read it and prepare yourself to become attached to some less-than-worthy fictional characters.

The novel is set in the British Empire during the 1920's, and is primarily about the development of one Kitty Fane. Out of boredom and some curiosity, she acquaints herself with the Mother Superior of a Catholic convent (she herself is not Catholic.) As she leaves the convent for the last time, the Mother bids her goodbye. I've truncated the scene:

Kitty had a wild impulse to shake her, crying: "Don't you know that I'm a human being, unhappy and alone? Can't you turn a minute away from God and give me a little compassion?" To Kitty's surprise the Mother Superior took her in her arms and kissed her. She held her for a moment. "Remember that it is nothing to do your duty, that is demanded of you and is no more meritorious than to wash your hands when they are dirty; the only thing that counts is the love of duty; when love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding." (Vintage, 204-06)

Kitty is deeply flawed in many ways, but her biggest problem is that she is incredibly selfish. I suppose one might say that the book is really about her learning what it means to love. She goes through the paces of a few things, such as marriage, because they are what she is expected to do. But, never having received real love from her parents, and being encouraged in a solipsistic existentialism, she is, quite simply, a brat. The mother superior has told her exactly what she needs to hear, and, really, exactly what all of us need to hear.

If we gracelessly go through the paces of life, grumbling as we take out the trash, swearing at other drivers during the morning commute, blandly reciting our prayers, impatient at having to change yet another diaper, angry at disruptions of our dutiful routine, we'll be utterly miserable, and so will everyone with whom we come in contact. It is far better to be 5 seconds later to work than to cut off someone trying to merge onto the highway. No one will be thankful that you took out the trash if you guilt-trip them about how much work you do around the house. A grumpy recitation of a 20-decade rosary has less merit in it than a 2-second shout-out to God of sincere gratitude for a piece of chocolate. And if you resent every diaper you have to change, or even every other diaper, don't think your child will grow up unaware of that resentment. Kitty isn't perfect at the end of the book; she does progress, but boy, she sure slips up pretty horrifically. Sadly, so will you and I (as we're both already aware, I'm sure). I know it sounds trite and corny, but at least try to love people, really love them and be kind to them, as you go along making mistakes and inadequately performing your duties for them. Love covers a multitude of sins, and leads you to that happiness which surpasses all understanding. So go have some chocolate, or, better yet, buy chocolate for someone else, and thank God you can.