Big Fish: Part 2: He Goes to War Summary & Analysis

Edward becomes—of course—a sailor during the war, and sails on a ship called the Neried, which is bigger than his hometown. Edward is standing on deck, feeling good surrounded by water, when a torpedo rips into it and flings him across the deck as the ship begins to sink. The sailors—with military discipline—calmly abandon the sinking ship. Edward sees heads bobbing all around in the water, and some get sucked into the propeller. Edward rereads his most recent letter from Sandra, takes off his shoes, and looks for an open spot in the water where he can jump in, as oil leaks out everywhere.

Edward finds a clear spot and jumps 20 feet, before sinking 40 feet below the surface, and remaining there, suspended “like a fly in amber” as sailor’s legs dangle frantically above him. For some reason, he doesn’t drown. Instead he sees the river girl and swims towards her in the dark, under the oil-coated surface of the sea. Eventually, he sees the light break through the water and goes up for air in a clear spot, and emerges far away from the other sailors. Emboldened by his feat, the sailors swim towards Edward with hope, and hundreds of them make it, while others are sucked down forever when the ship finally goes under.