Deep Water William Orville Douglas: Subjective Theme
Deep Water William Orville Douglas: Subjective Theme
Deep Water William Orville Douglas: Subjective Theme
Subjective Theme:
The terror suffered by William O Douglas and his
determination to overpower it.
Universal Theme:
Challenges are inevitable in life and can become
intensely demoralizing. However, challenges and
apprehension can be subjugated by mental
competence like determination and perseverance.
First Experience:
1. First journey to the bottom and then to the surface
very slow.
2. Swallowed a lot of water, reached surface.
3. Only eyes and nose out of water.
4. Unsuccessful in floating.
Aversion to Water:
1. Douglas wanted to learn swimming.
2. Suffered from apprehension and aversion owing to
an experience in California at the age of 4.
3. Scared on realizing the immensity of the power of
water.
Misadventure:
1. An eighteen year old boy tossed him into the
deeper end of the pool.
2. Douglas was unprepared and didn't know to swim
3. Adopted a strategy to float like a cork on the
surface despite the fear overwhelming him
4. Depth of 9 feet appeared like 90.
Decided to jump and reach the surface and float
Second Experience:
1. More traumatic and slower
2. Compared it to a nightmare.
3. Realized the overpowering effect of terror
captivating body and mind.
4. Compared it to being electrocuted.
5. Felt paralyzed with fear.
6. Again unsuccessful in floating.
Third Experience:
1.Third experience had a different impact.
2. Transcended him beyond the realm of fear.
3. Drifted to a state of unconsciousness
4. Felt no pain or anxiety - peaceful condition
5. Compares this painless condition to sleep, to the
peace inducing arms of mother and to a state of
oblivion
Developing Efficacy:
1. The narrator however did not become complacent
and continued testing his skill and confidence by
swimming in various water bodies in the absence of
the instructor.
2. During each attempt he encountered terror which
tried to immobilize him but he successfully
vanquished it.
3. He gradually developed confidence and felt
stimulated to assess his efficacy in unknown and
deeper water bodies.
4. Finally, he felt no longer intimidated and haunted
by the near death like experience.
Strategy Adopted:
1. Learning to swim.
2. Developing self confidence and efficacy.
Decision taken:
1. He resolutely decided to combat his terror.
2. Hence, he decided to learn swimming to
overpower his deficient existence.
3. He began by hiring a specialized instructor who
gave him exclusive individual training.
4. He worked diligently with determination, zeal and
adroit perseverance.
Survival:
1. Douglas was rescued.
2. The eighteen old boy realizes his mistake.
3. The narrator is safe and is taken to the locker
room for recovery.
4. Later he is sent home.
Immediate Effect:
1. The misadventure affected the narrator adversely.
2. He suffers from intense mental fatigue and
trauma.
3. He felt weak and trembled haunted by the
memory of his near death experience.
4. All desire to learn swimming deserted his mind.
5. Trauma transformed to horror captivating and
crippling his mind.
6. Even slightest exertion depressed and exhausted
him.
7. He lost confidence and was reluctant to face any
difficult situation.
Learning to swim:
1. He received training from an instructor from
October to April.
2. Practices five days a week with a belt around him
connected to a pulley with a rope
3. This offered him mental security as he always felt
the presence of the instructor.
4. His insecurity in water was first overpowered by
compelling him to remain in water with the instructor
controlling the rope.
4. Then he was taught to inhale and exhale while in
water.
5. At last he was taught the various techniques of
swimming and the instructor's responsibility was
over.
Future impact:
1. He developed terror for water and avoided it even
as an adult.
2. This had an intensely detrimental effect on his
personality and life.
3. It amplified his fear and transformed it into a
mental handicap distorting his social existence.
4. He introspected, analysed and realized his
difference from his friends.
5. Even when he went for fishing or canoeing terror
seized him as he invariably recounted his
misadventure.
6. He suffered inadequate an existence as
insurmountable horror grabbed his mind.
Role of the Instructor:
1. The instructor adopted methodical and technical
approach while training Douglas.
2. He analytically detected the narrator's deficiency
which was mortal fear of water, so devised novel way
of training.
3. He gradually restored his lost confidence.
4. He helped him in improving his stamina
methodically.
Ultimate Learning:
1. After overcoming his fear for water, the narrator
applied his learning to future experience.
2. His zest to live and face challenges increased.
3. His success reinforced his mental dexterity,
reinstated his confidence and enhanced his optimism.
4. He experienced freedom from anxiety and stressful
afflictions.
SATQs:
1. Douglas' first experience in water was not a happy
one. Why?
2. What is the misadventure that William Douglas
talks about?
3. What were the series of emotions that Douglas
experienced when he was thrown into the pool?
4. Explain the narrator's first attempt.
5. Explain the narrator's second attempt.
6. Why did the narrator feel peaceful?
7.Where did Douglas find himself when he regained
his consciousness?
8. What was the immediate after effect of the
misadventure?
9. How did the incident in the YMCA pool affect
Douglas?
10. What were the complexes that the writer needed
to overcome in order to learn swimming at YMCA?
11. How does Lake Wentworth and Warm Lake
become symbolically significant?
LATQs:
1.All we have to fear is fear itself. Expatiate the
statement with reference to the narrator
misadventure.
2. Deep Water is a saga of resilience, fortitude and
iron will. Substantiate.
3. The reckless and irrational behaviour of the
eighteen year old proved to be a lethal experience for
the narrator. Comment.
4. The narrative touches upon psychological hidden
realms which play a key role in empowering an
individual. Analyse this statement.
5. The ultimate realization of the narrator entwines
the essence of our existence. Validate.
6. Mental dexterity and stability is more importance
than physiological vitality. Elaborate.
7. Ideally extrinsic stimulation can pave way for
teenagers to an extent. For greater glories, one
should explore his own self. How does this narrative
exemplify this dictum?
8. The paramount role of the instructor in Douglas'
metamorphosis cannot be negated. Validate.