Question

Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from his experience?

Answer 1

Douglas had two childhood experiences of terror. One at the California beach when the waves knocked him down and swept over him. He was terror stricken. At the other occasion he was thrown into the deep end of the Y.M.C.A pool by a strong aggressive boy. A stark terror overpowered and gripped him. It followed and haunted him wherever he went. He realized that his joys of fishing, canoeing, boating and swimming had ruined. Keeping in view its severe consequences, he engaged an instructor who trained him in swimming and Douglas was able to conquer his fear. 
This experience had a deeper meaning for Douglas. As he had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that the fear of it can produce, he learnt the will to live with great intensity. This experience can only be realized by those who have faced to conquer it. This exactly happened with Douglas. He knew: “In death, there is peace, there is terror only in the fear of death.” Thus what matters most is the will to live. As Roosevelt said "All we have to fear is fear itself.’’ So one must not give up. One must face the challanges. The will to live is great and it can take man to touch the highest peaks of life.