As the title of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s novel implies, the medium of water is significant throughout the novel. This significance operates both on physical and metaphorical levels. The idea of the ocean particularly matters, as the physical separation from Africa is especially meaningful for those who were born there or whose ancestors were taken from there to America. Because of the many deaths during the voyages, the sea is a powerful symbol of death as well. It is through the river water that Maynard perishes, an event that paradoxically yields Hiram’s rebirth as he learns of his power.

As Hiram discovers his gift for Conduction, he realizes that water is an essential medium for putting this power into play. Water is the appropriate medium for his power because of its close association with time and electrical power. The metaphor of flowing water represents the passage of time. The conduction of electricity through water is part of natural law. The time association becomes significant as Hiram’s power links past and present; his own memories and those of others, especially those who have been enslaved, are linked to his visions of a future of freedom—a future he is uniquely positioned to help Tasked people achieve.