Final answer:
In literature, a character submerged in water who does not come out generally symbolizes death, defeat, or being overwhelmed, reflecting profound transformation or the end of one's journey. This is seen both in direct scenarios of characters facing death, and metaphorically, as in Fang's paintings to represent societal oppression.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a character is submerged in water and does not emerge, this typically symbolizes a profound transformation or, more commonly, death. In literature, water represents both life and death, and drowning often suggests defeat or being overwhelmed by emotions or circumstances.
The character's failure to resurface can indicate a loss of hope, a surrender to fate, or being consumed by certain forces, whether internal like despair, or external, like societal pressures.
As the excerpts provided suggest, characters facing such fates often ponder the injustice of their potential deaths after enduring so much, encapsulating the human struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds.
An example from the texts is the question, "If I am going to be drowned...why was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees?" This reflects on the absurdity and cruelty of hope given only to be taken away.
The image of Fang's bald man also serves as a metaphor for societal repression, where the image of drowning represents the suppression of voice and powerlessness within a governmental structure. Thus, being submerged in water and not coming out is imbued with deep symbolism, often relating to the themes of death, defeat, or existential contemplation.