In this chapter, we learn that the monster has fallen in love with Desdemona, and that she has left him in the forest of the north woods in order to protect him from the evil of the forest. He is now at the water palace, which is the first place after the monster's banishment that he has been able to find. He realizes that the forest is still suffering from the effects of poison, but that there are no living creatures in it. He decides to leave some light in the darkness so that he will not be able to see the monster.