To take root means to begin to take hold or have effect, and in this context the emotions are being closed off before they can take effect.
Context: With each lap of the waves against the hull, tony closed off insidious emotions before they could take effect inside him and focused on the shore.
Hypothesis: With each lap of the waves against the hull, tony closed off insidious emotions before they could take root inside him and focused on the shore.

Is the hypothesis incorrect? (Yes, no, or unknown)?