Big Fish: Part 2: How He Saved My Life Summary & Analysis

William explains that Edward Bloom saved his life twice (that he knows of). As a child, William is fascinated by a ditch full of stones even though Edward repeatedly warns him to stay out of the ditch. One day, William is sitting in the ditch, transfixed by the stones he’s pocketing when a rush of water comes in and nearly carries him away. Suddenly, Edward’s there, pulling William out of the ditch as a river emerges, as if from nowhere. 

The second time Edward saves William, they’ve just moved to a new house on Mayfair Drive. William is swinging on the old swing set in the garden, trying to see how high he can go, not knowing the previous owner has unscrewed the set to pack it up. William is swinging higher and higher and suddenly the swing set tips over, sending William flying towards the fence that he’ll surely be impaled on. Suddenly, Edward is around William, embracing him “like a cloak.” It’s as if he plucked William from Heaven and put him safely back on Earth.