# XLVI explained — The Painted Veil

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

## What happens

Kitty attempts to reconcile with Walter, admitting her infidelity and expressing admiration for his work, but Walter remains emotionally distant and self-loathing.

## Themes in this chapter

### Self-Deception and Truth

Kitty confronts the truth of her affair and her own worthlessness, while Walter's self-loathing reveals his own deception.

### Moral Awakening and Redemption

Kitty's desire to work at the convent and her plea for friendship signal a moral awakening, though Walter's response suggests redemption remains elusive.

## Character check-ins

### Kitty Fane

Kitty confesses her affair and seeks friendship with Walter, offering to work at the convent.

### Walter Fane

Walter remains cold and polite, rejecting Kitty's overtures and admitting he despises himself.

## Key lines

> I don’t know whether you’ll understand what I mean. That sort of thing doesn’t mean very much to a woman when it’s over.

Kitty suggests that women may not view infidelity with the same gravity as men do, especially after the affair has ended.

_Kitty attempts to explain her perspective on the affair, seeking to bridge the emotional gap with Walter._

> I don’t ask you to forgive me. I don’t ask you to love me as you used to love me. But couldn’t we be friends?

Kitty asks for a new, platonic relationship with Walter, acknowledging that their former love is gone.

_Kitty's plea for friendship marks a shift from her earlier selfishness toward a desire for connection and peace._

> No. I despise myself.

Walter admits that his contempt for Kitty is matched by his own self-loathing.

_Walter's confession reveals his inner turmoil and the depth of his pain, complicating Kitty's attempt at reconciliation._

## Links

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