In the metaphor presented by Jonathan Lethem, the vast ocean symbolizes the overwhelming amount of written content, where surface-level ideas and trends are akin to foam and bubbles that gather on top. This highlights the ephemeral nature of popular discourse, suggesting that much of what is visible is fleeting and superficial.

Meanwhile, the deeper waters represent the complex and often obscured depths of knowledge and insight that require effort and exploration to reach. Just as divers need illumination to navigate these depths, readers and thinkers must delve deeper into subjects to uncover meaningful truths, implying that there is more beyond the immediately accessible surface.