Final answer:
The lesson 'Deep Water' supports the notion that facing our fears can lead to their diminishment. Characters experience heightened fear that paralyzes them, but through courage and willingness to confront these fears, they find empowerment and growth. This illustrates the transformative power of facing challenges head-on.
Step-by-step explanation:
The perspective that facing our fears can help diminish them is a recurring theme in literature, such as in the lesson Deep Water. The passages from the lesson illustrate how the protagonist's fear grows from his imagination, creating a perceived threat that overtakes his confidence. It suggests that our fears, when confronted, can lose their power over us. This aligns with the idea that fear is often not rooted in reality, but rather in our perceptions and responses to challenging situations.
Whereas succumbing to fear can lead to inaction or a sense of being overwhelmed, confronting it can initiate a transformative process. The characters in Deep Water face literal and metaphorical deep waters, and their reactions vary from paralyzing terror to the eventual realization that through courage and action, one can survive and even thrive amidst adversity.
Indeed, when faced with the prospect of drowning, the protagonist reflects on the relief of surrender but is simultaneously drawn to the will to survive, influenced by the sheer instinct to face his fears and continue the struggle. This is emblematic of the lesson that courage in the face of fear can lead to growth and survival. The act of facing fears is thus presented not just as a battle to be won but also as a journey towards self-discovery and empowerment.