Hanscom - The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water is a very different and interesting movie that involves a few good examples of symbolism. In the film, a lonely woman falls in the love with an amphibian man that was being held captive in a government research facility. At first, the woman was afraid of the mysterious amphibian man because of how the researchers were treating him. However, she learns that the amphibian is not a dangerous creature if you treated him with respect and love. The woman forms a relationship with the amphibian man by visiting everyday, offering him eggs to eat as a symbol of her love and trust. Once the amphibian man learns to trust the woman in return, she decides help him escape from the research facility before he is killed by the government authorities.

The water is another symbolical factor in the film. Although water generally symbolizes healing, water also symbolizes the nature of how people and relationships change in the film. The amphibian man possesses these healing powers that can only be fully functioning if he is completely hydrated. The woman's relationship with the amphibian grows when they are both in water together. The woman was able to connect with the amphibian unlike anyone else had before because she could relate to him. As a mute woman, she was often overlooked in society or viewed as someone other than human. In the film, she believes amphibian made her feel known, saying: "When he looks at me, he doesn't see how I'm incomplete. He sees me how I am." The woman is able to see the amphibian man for who he is--an intelligent creation with the ability to understand language, symbols, and express love.

The amphibian man could also symbolize a Christ figure because he has dual forms: fully man and fully amphibian. Christ was God in the flesh, yet fully human. The amphibian was also revered by many for his healing powers, just as Christ was recognized for his authority to heal the sick.