‘This handicap stayed with me as the years rolled by.’ Which handicap is being referred to and what are the events that made Douglas handicapped?

 

‘This handicap stayed with me as the years rolled by.’ Which handicap is being referred to and what are the events that made Douglas handicapped?

 

Answer – 

The handicap in question is Douglas’s fear of water, which he developed as a result of some unfortunate events in his childhood. As a result, he was unable to participate in water sports or swim. His father took him to the beach in California when he was three or four years old. Douglas was knocked down by the sea waves and nearly drowned. He developed a phobia of water. Furthermore, when he was ten or eleven years old, a thug threw him into a swimming pool. He had a terrible experience at the time.

He was almost submerged in water, which suffocated him and paralyzed his limbs. He did, however, avoid drowning.

Since then, he has been afraid of water and has been unable to enjoy activities such as canoeing, swimming, rafting, fishing, and so on. This became a disadvantage for him because he was deprived of the enjoyment of water sports and swimming.

 

 

Check out more Questions and Answers from Deep Water

 

How did Douglas develop an aversion to water?

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?

Describe the efforts made by Douglas to save himself from drowning in the YMCA swimming pool.

How did the instructor make Douglas a good swimmer? 

The childhood experience of terror of Douglas made him stronger and more determined. Elucidate the above statement supporting it with evidence from the text.

How does Douglas overcome his fear of water?