Lifting the Veil and See(k)ing Hidden Beauty in Shelley’s “Lift Not the Painted Veil”

Abstract

On first read, “Lift Not the Painted Veil” supposedly instruct the reader to not lift the painted veil called life as it only is a mirage/mirror of reality painted to convince people that it is truth; however, this reading is too literal and fails to reveal the power behind the ambiguities that exist between the lines. I utilize Shelley’s Defense of Poetry and his close analysis of the awe-full ability poetic language has on its subject and apply his theory to “Lift Not the Painted Veil” and, in doing so, I illustrate the way Shelley utilizes language to provoke philosophical, visual, and affective moments of expression in his early sonnet. “Lift Not the Painted Veil” emphasizes the importance of apprehending a hidden beauty when attempting to break free from the monotony of life. By apprehending this poem and allowing the poetic language to overwhelm us, we can begin to find truth.