Water emerges as a recurring symbol of the fluidity and elusive nature of time, especially as filtered through memory.

Early in the novel, during Tony’s school years, the flow of the Severn River seems “to be obeying its instructions” (35). It is easy for the young to feel in control of time, because they lack adult responsibilities and are looking forward into the future. As the narrative progresses, the main characters age, and water takes on more problematic connotations.

Just as water’s surface reflects distorted images, Tony’s recollections are subject to distortion and the passage of time. He comes to realize that memory, like water, can be turbulent and obscure, with hidden depths that defy easy comprehension. Like water, time is a “solvent” that erodes through its constant, quiet pressure.

The motif of water becomes increasingly potent during Tony’s interactions with Veronica and her family. The Ford home is near the sea, and water is often present in Tony and Veronica’s conversations, forcing itself into Tony’s mind. When Veronica tells Tony, “I don’t stagnate,” he tries to think about that, but “instead kept seeing an image of stagnant water, with thick scum and hovering mosquitoes” (34). Time will have its effects on Tony and his relationship with Veronica, whether he wishes it or not.