- In retrospect, Humbert recognizes that he never knew Lolita as a person; to him, she was only a sex object. He recalls a poignant remark she once made about death.
- Humbert begins to address Lolita directly, confessing that, though he was a vile monster, he truly loved her.
- He recalls a moment in Beardsley when Lolita cried at the sight of her friend having a normal interaction with her own father. He also describes a time when Lolita confronted him about her mother, whom she refers to as "my murdered mummy" (2.32.6). As awful as Charlotte was, she still offered Lolita a far better life than he ever did.