24/7 writing help on your phone
Save to my list
Remove from my list
Charles Townsend is the most "prudent" hero of the novel The Painted Veil. He was Assistant Colonial Secretary in Hong Kong. Charlie was probably the most popular guy in the colony. He played tennis, polo and golf. He kept racing ponies. He never let bureaucracy interfere with him. He put on no airs. He constantly left an impression of extremely conceited person. Kitty, the main heroine of the novel, was presented to him when she went to dine with her other half Walter Fane at the Townsends 'location.
That day Charlie made her laugh, he spoke to her about everything in his deep, rich voice, a delightful expression in his kind, shining blue eyes, that made Cat feel really much at house with him. Of course, he had a charm. That was what made him so pleasant. He was tall, 6 foot 2 at hast and he had a stunning figure; he was evidently in extremely good condition and he had not an extra ounce of fat on him.
He was well-dressed, his face was deeply sunburned. Cat liked the little trim curly moustache which did not hide his complete red lips. He had black hair, short and brushed really streamlined. But, obviously, Townsend's eyes were his finest feature: they were so blue, and they had a laughing inflammation which persuaded Kitty of the sweetness of his personality.
She had never been in love prior to. It was wonderful. And now that she understood what love she felt was an unexpected sympathy for the love that Walter bore her.
She loved Charles. She did not believe that there was anything he might n`t do. As for Walter Fane, he knew everything about the relations between Kitty and Charlie Townsend however he did disappoint it. When his partner asked him why he had n`t tried to thrash Charles and break into the space when he knew that she existed with Townsend, Walter stated that he was too happy to eliminate. He was extremely clever. Dr. Fane promised his spouse to bring an action for divorce if he got a written pledge from Charlie to wed Cat within a week. He was dead-on and sensitive in his actions since when Charles knew about whatever he attempted to persuade Cat that he was in love with her however he was really crazy about his profession which his other half Dorothy would never let him down.
Walter knew what Charlie was and what he would do. In Mei-Ten-Fu Kitty tried not to think of Charles, but love lingered in her heart. She still loved a man, whose worthlessness was so clear for her at that moment. Then one day it occurred to her that she had neither thought of Charles Townsend nor dreamt of him for a week. She was cured. She could think of him with indifference. She loved him no longer. Kitty felt a relief and the sense of liberation. And then, considering his calmly, she wondered what on earth she had seen in him. She had difficulty in calling up his features to her imagination. The love of him passed out her heart. After Walter`s death, in Hong Kong, Kitty thought that there would be no need to see Townsend. She would like to see him once more in order to tell him what a despicable creature she thought him.
She felt freedom from love that had degraded her. But when the circumstances made her stay at the Townsends` place with Charles and his wife Dorothy, something changed. Before her coming to Hong Kong, Kitty had built in her mind a very vivid impression of Charlie. His thick curling hair was greying and there was too much oil on it, his face was too red. She imagined his fat figure and hard movements. But when she finally saw him she could hardly help laughing at herself. He might have been a young man, he was admirable and handsome. It was almost impossible not to be moved by him. Kitty was with Charlie, she made this mistake again. It was horrible. She thought that she could never look him in the face. She believed that he had been right not to marry her because she was worthless.
"The Painted Veil" by Charles Townsend. (2016, Sep 30). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-painted-veil-charles-townsend-essay
👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!
Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.
get help with your assignment