The Painted Veil Lesson Plan

Compare and contrast the Catholic convent and the Buddhist monastery. What point do you think Maugham is making with this comparison?

The Catholic convent is situated in the middle of the epidemic. It is a full and bustling space, housing orphaned children as well as serving as the infirmary for the townspeople. The Buddhist monastery, meanwhile, is located ten miles outside the city. The monks there seem to barely tolerate their duties and act “as though they awaited a notice to quit.” This is in contrast to both the nuns at the convent who merrily perform their duties as well as the nuns that are volunteering to move to Meitan-fu to offer assistance.

Maugham’s...