# LXIII explained — The Painted Veil

> Chapter companion for The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham.

## What happens

Kitty rushes to Walter's bedside as he lies dying of cholera. She begs for his forgiveness, but his final words—'The dog it was that died'—leave her in confusion and grief. Walter dies shortly after, and Kitty, dazed, kisses him goodbye before being led away by Waddington.

## Themes in this chapter

### Moral Awakening and Redemption

Kitty's desperate plea for forgiveness reflects her moral awakening, but Walter's refusal to grant it underscores the limits of redemption.

### Self-Deception and Truth

Walter's final words, 'The dog it was that died,' force Kitty to confront the truth of their broken relationship and her own self-deception.

### Suffering and Growth

Walter's agonizing death and Kitty's emotional turmoil mark a pivotal moment of suffering that catalyzes her potential for growth.

## Character check-ins

### Kitty Fane

Desperately seeks Walter's forgiveness at his deathbed, but is left bewildered by his cryptic final words.

### Walter Fane

Dies of cholera; his last words are 'The dog it was that died,' refusing Kitty's plea for reconciliation.

### Waddington

Accompanies Kitty to Walter's deathbed, informs her of Walter's condition, and later escorts her back to the bungalow.

### Colonel Yü

Stands vigil at Walter's bedside; his tears move Kitty despite her exasperation.

## Key lines

> The dog it was that died.

Walter's final words, a cryptic reference to Oliver Goldsmith's poem 'An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog,' suggest that he sees himself as the 'dog' who perished, leaving Kitty—the 'man'—alive but morally wounded.

_This line encapsulates Walter's unresolved bitterness and the tragic irony of his death._

> Don't fuss. I've had a rough passage, but I'm all right now.

Walter dismisses Kitty's concern with a stoic remark, downplaying his fatal condition.

_His refusal to engage with her plea highlights his emotional detachment and resignation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters/lxiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_painted_veil_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_painted_veil_se/chapters