🌊 Deep Water – William Douglas

(Class 12 Flamingo – Prose)

📖 Introduction

The chapter Deep Water is an autobiographical excerpt by William Douglas, who later became a judge at the U.S. Supreme Court.
It narrates his fear of water that haunted him since childhood and how he overcame it with determination, courage, and the help of a swimming instructor.
The story is not only about swimming but also about facing fears, persistence, and self-mastery.

📝 Summary

1. 🌅 Early Fear of Water

At the age of 3 or 4, William went to a beach in California with his father.
A huge wave knocked him down and buried him in water.
Although his father laughed, the child was terrified.
Since then, he developed a strong fear of water.

2. 🏊 Yakima YMCA Pool Incident

At the age of 10 or 11, Douglas decided to learn swimming at the YMCA pool in Yakima.
The pool was considered safe – shallow at one end, deep at the other.
One day, while he was sitting on the poolside, a big bully boy picked him up and threw him into the deep end.

3. 😨 Struggle Under Water

Douglas hit the water, went straight to the bottom, and planned to jump up like a cork to the surface.
He thought he would float and grab the side.
But when he came up, his lungs were ready to burst.
He tried to scream, but no sound came out.

4. ⚠️ Near-Death Experience

He went down again, felt suffocated, and darkness surrounded him.
Fear paralysed him completely.
He was sure he was going to die.
Finally, he fainted and was rescued by others.

5. 🌑 Impact of the Incident

The terror became his constant companion.
He could not go swimming, fishing, or canoeing like other boys.
Even after growing up, he felt haunted by fear whenever he was near water.

6. 💪 Determination to Overcome Fear

As an adult, Douglas realised that this fear was interfering with his life.
He hired a swimming instructor who taught him step by step for 5 months.
Training included:
- Wearing a belt with rope attached to a pulley.
- Practising breathing techniques.
- Learning kicks, strokes, and relaxation.

7. 🌟 Victory Over Fear

Even after learning to swim, the fear would return suddenly at times.
To test himself, Douglas went swimming alone in lakes and rivers.
Finally, one day while swimming across Warm Lake, he felt completely free from fear.

8. 🧠 Philosophical Reflection

Douglas concludes that “All we have to fear is fear itself.”
The story is about the triumph of willpower, courage, and determination.

✨ Themes in Deep Water

Fear and Courage – Fear can destroy one’s freedom, but courage and determination can overcome it.
Perseverance – Continuous effort is the key to success.
Childhood Memories – Incidents of childhood leave lasting impressions.
Man vs Self – The story is a psychological struggle between Douglas and his inner fear.

🎭 Characters

William Douglas (Narrator) – A boy haunted by fear of water, who later conquers it.
The Bully Boy – A careless boy who threw Douglas into the pool (responsible for triggering the phobia).
Swimming Instructor – Patiently trained Douglas step by step.

🔍 Literary Devices

Imagery – “I was shrieking underwater. I looked for rope or water wings. Nothing but water.”
Personification – Fear is described as if it were a living being.
Symbolism – Water symbolises life’s challenges; fear symbolises limitations.
Metaphor – “Terror that knows no understanding.”

📚 Important Extracts & Explanation

🔹 Extract 1:

“I had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that fear of it can produce.”
👉 This line shows the intensity of his experience. Douglas felt the approach of death and realised the crippling power of fear.

🔹 Extract 2:

“In death there is peace. There is terror only in the fear of death.”
👉 Reflection: Fear of death is worse than death itself. Once we overcome fear, life becomes meaningful.

❓ Questions & Answers (Long + Short)

🔹 Short Answer Type (30–40 words)

Q1. Why did William Douglas develop an aversion to water?
👉 He developed fear of water when a wave knocked him down at the beach as a child. The incident left a deep psychological impact on him.

Q2. What happened at the YMCA swimming pool?
👉 A big bully threw Douglas into the deep end. He almost drowned, and the terror of death took over him completely.

Q3. How did Douglas plan to save himself?
👉 He thought he would bounce up like a cork, grab the side, and paddle to safety. But his plan failed.

Q4. What role did the instructor play in his recovery?
👉 The instructor taught him breathing, strokes, and swimming techniques step by step, helping him overcome his fear slowly.

Q5. What lesson does the story teach us?
👉 The story teaches us that fear is our greatest enemy. With courage, determination, and persistence, one can overcome even the deepest fears.

🔹 Long Answer Type (120–150 words)

Q1. How did the fear of water ruin Douglas’s childhood?
👉 Douglas’s fear of water prevented him from enjoying childhood activities like swimming, fishing, and boating. He would avoid rivers, lakes, and beaches. The trauma from his near-drowning experiences stayed with him for years. His life was dominated by fear, making him feel incomplete and restricted.

Q2. Explain the significance of the quote “All we have to fear is fear itself” in the context of the story.
👉 The quote highlights that fear is more dangerous than the object itself. For Douglas, the water wasn’t the real enemy, but the fear of drowning was. Once he conquered this inner terror, he was able to live freely. The story conveys that overcoming fear gives true freedom and peace.

Q3. How did Douglas finally get rid of his fear of water?
👉 With the help of a trainer, Douglas practised regularly and mastered swimming techniques. Even then, fear occasionally returned. To test himself, he swam alone in lakes like Warm Lake. Finally, when he swam without fear, he felt victorious. His persistence helped him gain confidence and independence.

🔹 Very Long Answer Type (200–250 words)

Q. Narrate Douglas’s struggle against his fear of water and his ultimate victory.
👉 William Douglas’s fear of water began in childhood when a wave knocked him down at a beach. Later, a bully threw him into the YMCA pool, where he nearly drowned. This traumatic incident deepened his phobia, and for years, he could not go near water without feeling terrified.

The fear restricted his childhood pleasures, and he avoided all water-related activities. Later in life, Douglas realised that fear was limiting his growth. Determined to overcome it, he hired a swimming instructor. With step-by-step training over five months, he learnt to breathe underwater, control strokes, and relax. Still, traces of fear haunted him occasionally.

To test himself, Douglas went swimming in lakes alone. Gradually, his confidence grew. Finally, while swimming across Warm Lake, he realised that he had conquered fear completely.

The story beautifully conveys the message that fear is our greatest enemy, and only courage, patience, and perseverance can help us achieve victory over it.

🏆 Moral / Message

Fear limits growth, but courage sets us free.
Determination and practice can help us overcome the greatest obstacles.
True freedom lies in conquering fear, not in avoiding challenges.