”People of The Marshes Through ‘The Deep’”

Thesis: In Rivers Solomon’s “The Deep,” mermaids, through the experiences of the Wajinru, are a symbol and representation of the experiences endured by people of color. Through this representation, mermaids are a metaphorical mythical creature that shed light on issues regarding identity and the concept of belonging in a world where existence and agency is often denied to marginalized communities. Solomon’s portrayal of historical connections of the past and present, with the presence of oceanic mythical creatures, amplifies the sense of belonging drawn from understanding and knowing ones history. The themes present in this novel are prevalent to many modern marginalized societies. In this essay, I will focus on the major themes in “The Deep” and how the depiction of these themes through mermaids are a representation of the experiences endured by victims of the Human Rights movement in the village of Chibayish, Iraq between 1968-1988.

Explanation: For our final, I wanted to highlight how themes from Solomon’s “The Deep,” are prevalent today across many different categories. I specifically wanted to focus on how the themes present are symbolic to the experiences of the victims/survivors of the Human Rights movement in Iraq between 1968-1988. I wanted to draw connections between the Wajinru, being descendants of a tragedy, and the aftermath of the Human Rights movement, in which issues of identity, displacement, and a sense of belonging are very much prevalent.