The narrator of the novel Next Episode by Hubert Aquin cannot breathe; he's drowning. The author presents water as a deadly force that has the ability to suffocate life. Aquin uses the characteristics of water to represent the narrator's inability to express his national identity and therefore himself. More symbols are used in the book, such as fire and ice, but water is an overbearing and important aspect of the book because it conveys a sense of inertia in the individual. This notion of water is linked to the repression of Quebec nationality. The book talks about water in a variety of different contexts: as the main foundation of the story (as interpreted by the translator), as a metaphor for the self, and as a substitute for language. Water, woven into a nationalistic allegory, is given contrasting attributes and is at once the giver and taker of life. This dual approach to the fundamental element of water embodies both his drive to express his nationality and his inability to authentically vocalize his existence. The story begins under the waters of Lac Léman, as the narrator states "it is in the area of ​​this invisible lake that I will set my story" (4). The lake is central to the story, for it is this water (or the water flowing from it) that it speaks of in terms of itself and language. The toponyms of this body of water are also significant for the French-Canadian nationality. Translator Sheila Fischman has as much literary power as the narrator. This is because without having read the French edition of the text, the English edition changes the meaning relating to the image of water. Fischman does this by consistently using the lake's French name “Lac Léman” instead of using its English name “Lake…… middle of paper…… serves to corroborate the asphyxiation of a definitive French-Canadian national narrative. The water simultaneously embodies the narrator's desire to express his nationality and personal identity, but also his inability to do so. Ultimately, Water becomes for the narrator a kind of liquid courage that never produces substantial results, so he looks to a future revolution to conceive an authentic national identity. Works Cited Aquin, Hubert. Next episode. Trans. Sheila Fischmann. Toronto: McClelland & Steward Ltd. 2010. 1,4, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24-25, 46, 49, 52, 53, 67, 74, 84, 122, 128. Stewart, Susan Louise. “Beyond Borders: The Places of 'Other' Readers in Children's Literature.” Children's Literature in Education 39.2 (2008): 95-105. 98. Springer e-books. Power of attorney. Queen's University Library, Kingston. November 1, 2010/ >