The Main Lesson In David Foster Wallace’s This Is Water
This Is Water is the author’s unique creation of persona through repetition of keywords and mantras. He uses this to communicate the personal responsibility our society must face to “our lives”, “our bodies and minds.” In his commencement speech, Foster Wallace tells a story about two young fish that meet an older fish. The parable shows that sometimes the most direct reality in the real-world is often the most difficult to observe.
The author says that his main lesson is “default setting”, which refers to daily tasks that most people do without thinking about whether or not it’s right. Wallace shows how people forget what is most important to them in modern society. Unconsciously acting can cause people to lose sight of the things that matter most to them. The reader thinks that many people are more interested in money and work than they are in their health. Wallace tries to show each student some aspects of worthiness. Wallace used repetition in his graduation speech to try to persuade students to look at the world as a collective. Worshiping your body will make you feel horrible. Worshiping power will make you feel weak and fearful. If you start to worship your intellect, you’ll feel stupid. His repeated use of the word “worship” as a consequence and the parallelism between his sentences reflect how most people live their daily lives. Wallace said, “Since the certainty of situations like these is truly all about myself. It all seems to be about my anxiety, fatigue, and need to get home. He goes on to explain that people feel the need to see situations through the same instinctive view that most others, including him, have. His speech is filled with emotional appeal. He mentions that his wife may not be like that all the time.
His use of ethos helps him establish his credibility. He does not intend to be a preacher or supervise the expectations of his readers. Wallace is not trying to make the reader believe they’re hearing from someone of greater authority than their average friend. After he tells the story about the young fish who don’t know what water is and mentions that they are both clueless, Wallace says, “If you’re concerned that I intend to present myself to you as the wise old fish identifying to you the characteristics of water, please do not be.”
Wallace depicts many hypothetical parables. Wallace illustrates the previous parables concerning the fish. Next, he continues his use of “didactic short parable-like stories” when he discusses an Atheist/religious man. Both the religious man and the atheist have blind certainty. This parable identifies the problem. Both men are extremely certain, arrogant about the beliefs they hold and don’t accept the other’s side. Wallace reinforces this notion to the audience by using logical reasoning. He says, “Because an overwhelming percentage of what I tend be automatically sure of is, turns out, totally incorrect and deluded.” This was the lesson that Wallace and the reader have learned, just as the graduates did.
Wallace appealed to his audience with all these aspects. He also successfully presented his argument in the speech “This Is Water.” He stated that his goal was not to only open eyes but to see the world from the perspective of others. It is not just about one person. This is a common mistake, but one that shouldn’t be. It is through personal experiences that he uses pathos to persuade readers. The reader is influenced by genuine, strong emotions. His speech is a powerful influence on the reader’s optimism and judgment. His speech encourages readers to consider the whole person and not just the circumstances. Wallace’s presentation was often forgotten because many people make quick decisions about the sport and don’t look beyond the immediate gratification.
Wallace’s final message is to show empathy and compassion for others. No matter what the circumstance, it is important to be able to see life from all angles. It is possible to stop worrying or becoming anxious about any situation. Consciously being aware should result in a positive, uplifting mindset. This is why it is so important to look at people from such a positive perspective. David Foster Wallace’s analysis, “This is Water”, provided many valuable insights.
