Chapter 37 Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Chapter 37 presents a historical account of mysterious disappearances on two islands near the Door County Peninsula: Shilling Island and Wallin Island. The chapter is framed as an excerpt from a 2003 academic article by S. W. Willis, published in the Journal of Lake Michigan Research. The article compiles primary documents from the 18th and 19th centuries to trace a pattern of vanishings that some have linked to supernatural forces, though the author ultimately attributes them to coincidence and disease.
The account begins in the 1700s, when French Jesuit missionaries settled Shilling Island. Excavations later revealed the remains of a chapel and small cabins, but few primary records survive. A letter from missionary Julien Laurent, dated October 12, 1788, mentions that several missionaries had disappeared earlier in the century. Laurent was not present at the time, but he notes that the disappearances remained a topic of debate among the missionaries. Laurent himself was expected to return to France in 1790, but his traveling party never arrived, and their fate is unknown. A visiting missionary in 1799 reported that the island was completely devoid of life and had been for some time.
In the 19th century, attention shifts to nearby Wallin Island. In 1815, Paul and Louis Pierre established a fishing operation there, hosting between one and two hundred French fishermen and Potawatomi seasonally from August through November. In 1822, ten fishermen vanished overnight from their beds. Paul Pierre wrote to his wife, describing the incident: the men left behind their belongings and no boats were missing, and some had experienced hallucinations before disappearing. Pierre speculated that sickness might have driven them into the waters, but he expressed hope that they had simply fled and been picked up by another fishing party. There is no record of the men being seen again.
A similar disappearance occurred in 1887, when thirteen fishermen vanished on an October morning. Contemporary journal writings mention that some of the men were experiencing delusions, possibly from tainted meat. One fisherman who vanished had insisted his deceased son was visiting him at night. The fishery continued operating until the 1890s, when the camp was suddenly abandoned; the exact year is unknown.
In 1896, sailors aboard the SS Fortune discovered a malnourished old man adrift in a small boat near the Door County islands. According to sailor Jonas Carlson's journal entry, the man repeatedly said “Wallin” and “The evil has descended,” which the crew found macabre. The man's origin was never confirmed, nor was the reason for the island's abandonment. DNA tests later suggested that some French fishermen may have assimilated into Ontario tribes, and excavations of Wallin Island revealed fishing relics and a small stone cottage.
The article concludes by noting that urban legend enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists have pointed out a century-long pattern: a group disappears early in the century, another group vanishes later, and then the entire island is abandoned before the century ends. Wallin Island fits this pattern with disappearances in 1822 and 1887, followed by abandonment in the 1890s. Shilling Island shows a similar trajectory in the 1700s, though evidence is thinner. Willis, however, argues that the most likely explanation is a coincidental combination of disease, desertion, and accidents common to the region.
Key Events
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French Jesuit missionaries settle Shilling Island in the 1700s; later excavations reveal a chapel and cabins.
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Julien Laurent's 1788 letter documents earlier disappearances of missionaries; Laurent himself vanishes in 1790.
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A 1799 report describes Shilling Island as completely devoid of life.
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Paul and Louis Pierre establish a fishing operation on Wallin Island in 1815.
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In 1822, ten fishermen disappear overnight; some had hallucinations.
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In 1887, thirteen fishermen vanish under similar circumstances; some experienced delusions.
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The Wallin Island fishery is abandoned in the 1890s.
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In 1896, the SS Fortune finds an old man adrift who repeats “Wallin” and “The evil has descended.”
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DNA evidence suggests some fishermen assimilated into Ontario tribes.
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The article discusses a century-long pattern of disappearances but attributes it to coincidence and disease.
Character Development
This chapter does not feature the novel's main characters, but it introduces historical figures whose writings shape the mystery.
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Julien Laurent: A French Jesuit missionary whose 1788 letter is the only primary source for the Shilling Island disappearances. He is portrayed as a careful observer, noting the disappearances without elaboration. His own disappearance in 1790 adds to the mystery.
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Paul Pierre: Co-founder of the Wallin Island fishery. His letter to his wife reveals a practical man grappling with an inexplicable event. He considers rational explanations—fog, sickness, flight—but admits his lack of answers. His hope that the men are alive shows a human side.
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Louis Pierre: Mentioned as co-founder but not given a voice; his role is minimal.
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Jonas Carlson: A sailor on the SS Fortune. His journal entry provides the chilling phrase “The evil has descended,” which becomes a key motif. His reaction—finding the man's words “curious and quite macabre”—shows a mix of fascination and unease.
These figures are not developed as full characters but serve as witnesses to the island's strange history. Their accounts are filtered through the academic article, giving them a documentary quality.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Cyclical disappearances: The article highlights a pattern of vanishings that recur on a century-long cycle. This motif suggests a force that returns periodically, though the author dismisses it as coincidence.
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Coincidence vs. pattern: The central tension of the chapter. Urban legend enthusiasts see a deliberate pattern; the academic author argues for random events. This ambiguity mirrors the novel's larger questions about whether the island's horrors are supernatural or mundane.
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Hallucinations and delusions: Multiple disappearances are preceded by hallucinations—fishermen seeing dead relatives or experiencing altered perceptions. This motif hints at a psychological or possibly supernatural influence.
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The evil has descended: The old man's repeated phrase is a potent symbol. It suggests a malevolent presence that arrives at certain times, aligning with the cyclical pattern. The phrase may echo throughout the novel as a warning.
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Fog and environment: The fog is mentioned as a possible explanation for the 1822 disappearances, but the lack of missing boats undermines it. The environment is both a practical hazard and a metaphor for obscured truth.
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Abandonment and assimilation: The islands are repeatedly deserted, and the survivors may have assimilated into other communities. This theme of displacement and erasure connects to the novel's broader concerns about identity and loss.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter provides crucial backstory for the novel's central mystery. It establishes a historical precedent for mass disappearances on the islands, introducing the idea of a cycle that may be repeating in the present-day narrative. The phrase “The evil has descended” is a direct link to the supernatural elements of the story, suggesting that the events are not merely coincidental. The chapter also grounds the novel in a documentary style, blending real historical research with fictional events, which enhances the sense of authenticity. For readers, this chapter deepens the lore of the setting and raises questions about whether the characters in the main plot are facing the same fate as the vanished fishermen.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What evidence does the chapter provide for a pattern of disappearances, and how does the author explain it?
The chapter notes that on Wallin Island, groups vanished in 1822 and 1887, followed by complete abandonment in the 1890s. Shilling Island shows a similar trajectory in the 1700s, though with less documentation. The author, Willis, argues that this is likely a coincidental combination of disease, desertion, and accidents, rather than a deliberate pattern.
2. How do the hallucinations and delusions described in the chapter contribute to the mystery?
The hallucinations—such as the fisherman who saw his dead son—suggest that the victims may have been psychologically affected before disappearing. This could indicate a natural cause like tainted food, but it also hints at a supernatural influence, especially when combined with the old man's phrase “The evil has descended.” The ambiguity keeps the mystery alive.
3. What role does the old man found adrift play in the chapter's narrative?
The old man is a key piece of evidence. His repetition of “Wallin” and “The evil has descended” directly ties the disappearances to a malevolent force. However, his origin is unconfirmed, so his words remain an unverified clue. He serves as a bridge between the historical events and the novel's present-day horror.