The Robber Bride is set in Toronto, nestled on the shore of Lake Ontario. Water is ever present in the lives of the characters, whether merely in their vicinity or, as in the case of Charis, crossing it via ferry. Water is an essential building block of life; no life can exist without it. It represents rebirth and regeneration, which are particularly important attributes to Charis who feels a unique communion with the elements. Living on an island, she is surrounded by water. It gives her peace and stability as well as a confirmation of the primal bond between humans and nature. It is a purifying element, important in the Catholic faith and used in baptisms.

Symbolically, a sinner can be cleansed in water, emerging clean and morally pure. Charis takes this to heart, taking baths to cleanse herself both physically and spiritually and using her crossing of the water as a way to exorcise her soul of the impurities left by her past. Water also has a destructive side. Oceans are a powerful force, and tsunamis can cause massive damage and death. It is therefore appropriate that Zenia is found floating in a pool of water.