Summary of Deep Water
Deep Water is William Douglas’s autobiographical account of how a childhood experience turned into a lifelong fear of water, and how he eventually conquered it through determination and systematic effort.
Douglas begins by describing an early incident at the beach when he was three or four years old. A strong wave knocked him down while he stood with his father, and though his father laughed, the incident left him terrified of water. Years later, when he was about ten or eleven, he decided to learn swimming at the YMCA pool, which he believed was safer than the treacherous Yakima River.
However, a terrible misadventure occurred. One day, as he sat alone on the side of the pool, a big older boy picked him up and threw him into the deep end as a joke. Douglas sank to the bottom and attempted to push himself upward using a planned strategy, but panic and terror overwhelmed him. He struggled repeatedly, slipped into unconsciousness, and narrowly escaped drowning. The incident left him deeply shaken and filled with a haunting fear of water that lasted for years.
As an adult, Douglas realised that this fear was preventing him from enjoying activities like swimming, fishing, and boating. Determined to overcome it, he hired a professional instructor who trained him patiently through a step-by-step method — using a belt and pulley, teaching him breathing, kicking, and arm strokes, and gradually shaping him into a complete swimmer.
Even after mastering the techniques, Douglas continued testing himself in lakes and deep water until all traces of terror vanished. Eventually, he swam across Lake Wentworth and Warm Lake, proving to himself that he had truly conquered his fear.
In the end, Douglas reflects that fear of death is worse than death itself, and true freedom comes only when one conquers fear. His victory over water becomes a metaphor for overcoming any deep psychological obstacle through courage, persistence, and self-belief.
About the Author — William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas (1898–1980) was an American jurist, writer, and one of the most influential Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court. Born in Maine, Minnesota, he completed his education in English and Economics before teaching high school for a brief period. Later, he pursued law at Columbia University and developed a close association with Franklin D. Roosevelt, who eventually appointed him to the Supreme Court.
Douglas served for thirty-six years, making him the longest-serving Justice in the Court’s history. He was widely known for his strong advocacy of individual rights, civil liberties, and environmental conservation. Apart from his judicial career, Douglas was also a gifted writer. His autobiographical book Of Men and Mountains includes the essay “Deep Water,” in which he recounts his near-drowning experience and his journey of overcoming fear.
Through his writings, Douglas combined personal narrative with deeper reflections on human psychology, courage, and perseverance, making his work both insightful and inspiring.
Textual Questions and Answers
COMPREHENSION CHECK
1. What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about?
The “misadventure” refers to an incident at the YMCA swimming pool in Yakima when a big, muscular boy suddenly picked Douglas up and threw him into the deep end of the pool. Douglas did not know how to swim, and the unexpected act pushed him into a life-threatening situation, triggering a near-drowning experience.
2. What were the series of emotions and fears Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface?
When Douglas hit the water, he felt initial shock and fear, but he tried to remain calm. He planned to push himself up from the bottom of the pool to reach the surface, lie flat, and paddle to safety. However, when he began to sink, his fear intensified into terror, panic, suffocation, and helplessness. His legs refused to function, his arms became rigid, and he felt paralyzed as he went down repeatedly. Ultimately, he lost consciousness as a black curtain seemed to fall over his mind.
3. How did this experience affect him?
The incident created a lifelong fear of water in Douglas. Even years later, he could not enjoy activities such as fishing, canoeing, swimming, or boating. Whenever he entered water, the same icy horror returned, paralyzing his limbs and gripping his heart. The fear became a handicap that robbed him of the joy of water for many years.
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
1. How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned? Describe the details that made the description vivid.
Douglas uses graphic sensory details, bodily reactions, and emotional intensity to make the panic vivid. He describes sinking “like a stone,” feeling his lungs ready to burst, and seeing “nothing but yellow water.” His legs felt like “dead weights,” his scream froze in his throat, and he felt paralyzed by “sheer, stark terror.” The repetition of sinking, rising, choking, gasping, and the final peaceful drowsiness before losing consciousness create a powerful, realistic description that makes the reader feel the terror alongside him.
2. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Douglas overcame his fear through systematic, determined training under a professional instructor. The instructor used a belt-and-pulley system to help Douglas swim across the pool repeatedly until panic reduced. He then taught him breathing techniques and leg movements. Piece by piece, Douglas learned the components of swimming until he could integrate them. After completing the training, Douglas tested himself alone in pools, in Lake Wentworth, and finally in Warm Lake to ensure that the fear had fully disappeared.
3. Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from this experience?
Douglas recounts the experience to illustrate how fear can cripple a person’s life and how overcoming fear can restore confidence and freedom. The larger meaning is that fear of death is more terrifying than death itself, and defeating fear strengthens one’s will to live. He quotes Roosevelt: “All we have to fear is fear itself.” Conquering his fear of water taught him that courage is not the absence of fear but the victory over it.
TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT
(These are open-ended class discussion questions; here are polished sample answers.)
1. “All we have to fear is fear itself.” Have you ever had a fear that you have now overcome?
Yes. I once had a deep fear of public speaking. My voice shook, my palms sweated, and I could not meet anyone’s eyes. However, after participating in small school activities, receiving encouraging feedback, and practicing speeches at home, I slowly gained confidence. Over time, the fear became manageable. Today, I enjoy speaking in front of groups and feel proud of overcoming a fear that once controlled me.
2. Narrate another story about the conquest of fear.
Nelson Mandela’s struggle is one of the greatest examples. Although constantly threatened, imprisoned for 27 years, and separated from his family, Mandela refused to surrender to fear. His courage and determination helped him lead South Africa to freedom. He believed that courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
1. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Douglas was determined to get over his fear because it interfered with his enjoyment of life. He loved fishing, canoeing, and being in the mountains, but the fear of water prevented him from fully enjoying these activities. He felt that fear had become a barrier to living freely, and he wanted to reclaim the confidence he had lost.
2. How did the instructor “build a swimmer” out of Douglas?
The instructor “built a swimmer” through a step-by-step, structured training programme. He first used a pulley system to help Douglas swim across the pool without drowning. Then he taught breathing control, asking him to submerge his face, exhale underwater, and inhale with his nose above the water. Next, he trained the leg movements, making Douglas kick repeatedly until his legs obeyed him. Finally, he combined all the skills—arm strokes, breathing, kicking—into a coordinated swimming technique, turning Douglas into a confident swimmer.
3. How did Douglas make sure that he had conquered the old terror?
Douglas tested himself in increasingly challenging waters. He swam alone in the YMCA pool, then swam two miles across Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire. Still unsatisfied, he travelled to Warm Lake and swam across and back again. Only after successfully swimming in natural, deep, open water—where the old terror appeared only faintly and then disappeared—did he feel completely assured that he had conquered the fear.
THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE
Rewrite a paragraph in third-person narration
Sample answer
Original scene in first person:
“I jumped with everything I had. But the jump made no difference. The water was still around me.”
Rewritten in third-person:
When Douglas felt the tiles under his feet, he attempted to spring upward with all the strength he could muster. However, the jump made no difference. The water continued to surround him, and he felt helplessly trapped beneath the surface. His arms and legs refused to respond, and terror gripped him completely.
Which narration is more effective? Why?
The first-person narration is more effective because it communicates Douglas’s fear directly, allowing the reader to experience the panic, helplessness, and urgency from inside his mind. The immediacy and personal tone of first-person storytelling make the emotions more vivid.
WRITING QUESTIONS
1. Five-paragraph essay beginning with the last line of the text
“At last I felt released — free to walk the trails and climb the peaks and to brush aside fear.”
At last I felt released — free to walk the trails and climb the peaks and to brush aside fear. This line beautifully captures the moment when a person finally breaks through the barrier of fear. I felt something very similar when I first learned to ride a bicycle, a skill that seemed simple for others but terrifying for me. For a long time, the thought of falling, injuring myself, or losing balance filled me with anxiety. I admired other children who rode confidently, but whenever I tried, my legs stiffened and my hands trembled on the handlebars.
My fear began after a fall I had when I was younger. I had tried to ride without proper support, and the bicycle slipped from under me. My knees hit the ground and my palms scraped over the gravel. Although the wounds healed, the memory remained sharp. Every time I touched a bicycle afterwards, I felt the same sinking feeling in my stomach. The fear was irrational but overpowering, and slowly I began avoiding even the thought of learning again.
However, encouragement from my parents and friends gradually pushed me to try once more. My father held the bicycle from behind and asked me to pedal slowly. He jogged along with me, assuring me that he would not let go until I was ready. At first, I was stiff with nervousness, but his calm voice and steady support helped me relax. My friends cheered from the side of the road, telling me that everyone falls at least once before learning to balance. Their belief in me gave me the courage I lacked in myself.
One evening, while practicing, I suddenly realized that my father’s hand was no longer holding the seat. I was riding on my own. The road ahead looked wide and welcoming. For a moment, fear tried to return, but I shook it off and focused on pedalling smoothly. The breeze touched my face, and I felt both excitement and relief. When I finally stopped, breathless and smiling, I realized that the fear which had controlled me for years had dissolved in just a few seconds of confidence.
Learning to ride the bicycle taught me that fear is often a prison of our own making. As long as we avoid confronting it, it grows stronger. The moment we face it with courage and support, its power weakens. That day, I felt a new freedom — the freedom to move forward, to trust myself, and to know that no fear is stronger than my will to overcome it.
2. Letter about learning something new
[Your Address]
12, Green Valley Road
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
20 February 2025
Dear Rohan,
I hope you are doing well and enjoying your new school. I am writing to share something exciting with you — I have finally learnt how to swim! You already know how terrified I used to be of water, and even the shallow end of a pool made me nervous. But after joining a swimming class last month, I gradually began overcoming my fear.
My instructor was patient and made me practice simple movements first. Slowly, I learnt how to float, kick, and breathe properly. At first, I panicked whenever I put my face underwater, but with regular practice I became more comfortable. Last week, I swam an entire lap without stopping! It felt like a huge achievement, especially because I never imagined I could do it.
Learning to swim has made me realize that fear only grows when we avoid it. Once we face it step by step, we gain confidence. I feel proud of myself, and I hope you will be proud of me too. When you visit next time, we should go swimming together.
Take care and write back soon!
Your friend,
Amit
THINGS TO DO
Are there water sports in India? Find out the places known for them.
Yes, India offers a wide range of water sports due to its long coastline, lakes, and river systems. Popular water sports include:
- River rafting – Rishikesh (Uttarakhand), Kullu (Himachal Pradesh)
- Kayaking & Canoeing – Kerala backwaters, Teesta River (Sikkim)
- Scuba diving & Snorkelling – Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Goa, Lakshadweep
- Water skiing & Jet skiing – Goa, Mumbai, Chennai
- Surfing – Kovalam (Kerala), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu)
- Parasailing & Windsurfing – Goa, Daman & Diu
