The document describes Justice William O. Douglas overcoming his childhood fear of water through determined practice. As a young boy, Douglas nearly drowned after being bullied and tossed into a deep swimming pool. He developed an intense fear of water and avoided it for years. Later in life, Douglas hired a swimming instructor and practiced diligently for months until he was able to swim long distances with different strokes. He ultimately conquered his fear by challenging himself to swim across a lake, proving that courage and willpower can overcome even the deepest fears.
The document describes Justice William O. Douglas overcoming his childhood fear of water through determined practice. As a young boy, Douglas nearly drowned after being bullied and tossed into a deep swimming pool. He developed an intense fear of water and avoided it for years. Later in life, Douglas hired a swimming instructor and practiced diligently for months until he was able to swim long distances with different strokes. He ultimately conquered his fear by challenging himself to swim across a lake, proving that courage and willpower can overcome even the deepest fears.
The document describes Justice William O. Douglas overcoming his childhood fear of water through determined practice. As a young boy, Douglas nearly drowned after being bullied and tossed into a deep swimming pool. He developed an intense fear of water and avoided it for years. Later in life, Douglas hired a swimming instructor and practiced diligently for months until he was able to swim long distances with different strokes. He ultimately conquered his fear by challenging himself to swim across a lake, proving that courage and willpower can overcome even the deepest fears.
William Orville Douglas(1898-1980) was born in Maine, Minnesota. He completed his B.A. in English and Economics. He was a legal adviser of the American President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He served thirty six years at justice in the American Court. His famous book is ‘Of Men and Mountains’ from where the lesson ‘Deep Water’ has been extracted.
Vikram Singh Nagore 2
➢Autobiography of Douglas extracted from ‘Of Men and
Mountains’
➢Real –life personal account of experiencing childhood fear
➢Childhood fear to be tackled properly and at the correct time
➢Childhood aversion of water in the narrator, Douglas
➢Case of hydrophobia
➢Psychological analysis of fear
➢Determination to overcome such a fear
Vikram Singh Nagore 3 Douglas developed aversion to water
Three or four years old
Went along with his father to a
beach in California
Vikram Singh Nagore 4
Waves knocked Douglas down Swept over him Terror of water sets in his heart Vikram Singh Nagore 5 The Yakima river – a tributary of the Columbia River Dangerous – mother warned him against it to learn swimming Kept fresh in his mind – each drowning in the river Vikram Singh Nagore 6 Y.M.C.A. swimming pool at the Yakima Safe – decided to learn swimming there 2-3 feet deep at the shallow end 9 feet deep at the other end The drop was gradual Vikram Singh Nagore 7 At 10 or 11 years age
Decided to learn swimming
Went to pool one day
Nobody was there
It was quiet
Fear of water still there
Better to wait for others
Vikram Singh Nagore 8
A big bruiser of a boy,
probably 18 years old,
came and yelled –
“Hi, Skinny! How’d you
like to be ducked?”
The bully tossed Douglas
into the deep end.
Vikram Singh Nagore 9
Douglas landed in a sitting
position , swallowed water ,
and went at once to the
bottom.
Vikram Singh Nagore 10
Douglas’ Strategy – When he hits the bottom of the pool, he would make a big jump and come to the surface, lie flat on it, and paddle to the edge of the pool.
Vikram Singh Nagore 11
It was a long way down. Those nine feet appeared to be more like ninety. His lungs ready to burst. He struck the bottom with all his strength but it was of no use.
Vikram Singh Nagore 12
He flailed at the surface of
the water, swallowed and
choked. He tried to bring his
legs up, but they hung as dead
weights, paralyzed and rigid.
His lungs ached, head throbbed
and felt dizzy. Sheer, stark
terror seized him.
Vikram Singh Nagore 13 Douglas tried the second time. He made a jump but with no difference. He looked for ropes, ladders and water wings. Nothing but a mass of yellow water held him. Terror took an even deeper hold on him, like a great charge of electricity.
Vikram Singh Nagore 14
He started down for a third
time. He sucked for air and
got water. The yellowish light
was going out. All his efforts
ceased. He relaxed. His legs
also felt limp.
Vikram Singh Nagore 15
A blackness swept over his brain. It wiped out fear. There was no more panic. Vikram Singh Nagore 16 It was quiet and peaceful. Nothing to be afraid of. “This is nice… to be drowsy … to go to sleep… no need to jump… too tired to jump… it’s nice to be carried gently … to float along in space… tender arms around me… tender arms like Mother’s… now I must go to sleep…” Vikram Singh Nagore 17 ‘I crossed to oblivion,
and the curtain of life fell.’
Vikram Singh Nagore 18 Somehow he was saved Vikram Singh Nagore 19 He stayed there for
several hours. then walked
home. He was weak and
trembling.
Vikram Singh Nagore 20
For days a haunting fear
was in his heart. He never
went back to the pool.
He feared water.
He avoided it whenever
he could.
Vikram Singh Nagore 21
He was deprived of the joy
of fishing, boating and
canoeing.
Vikram Singh Nagore 22
A few years later Douglas
hired an instructor to learn
swimming.
He practiced five days a week,
an hour each day.
Vikram Singh Nagore 23
The instructor used a belt and rope arrangement
to teach him swimming. This continued for three
months until the tension began to slack.
Vikram Singh Nagore 24 Taught how to exhale under water and inhale above water Vikram Singh Nagore 25 ❖Crawl Stroke ❖Breast Stroke ❖Side Stroke ❖Back Stroke Vikram Singh Nagore 26 After six months, the instructor’s work was over
Douglas went to Lake Wentworth
to test himself of his fear Vikram Singh Nagore 27 He swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. He swam all the strokes there. Only once the terror returned to him. He challenged Mr. Terror and he fled. Douglas had conquered his fear. Vikram Singh Nagore 28 American President Franklin D. Roosevelt remarked,
Vikram Singh Nagore 29
The will to live is stronger than the fear of death.