




        In David Foster Wallace’s “This is water” commencement speech, Wallace touches on many concepts and ideas. The speech is not anything like a traditional one that is spoken to a typical group of graduates, it doesn’t have cliché one-liners, is void is of the usual happy go-lucky words of becoming all you want to be, and does not instill false hope into the audience receiving the speech. It is very different, and truly exceptional of the “genre” of commencement speeches. It uses deep anecdotes and relatable examples to show what the real value of your education is, specifically, the education gained from going to study at a liberal arts school such as Kenyon college. While the speech may be addressed to graduates of a liberal art school, the speech can apply to anyone, going to any university/college at any time. The lessons learned from David Foster Wallace’s speech are valuable, that they can be applied in a general sense, and are not limited to just one specific group of people. In “This is Water”, Wallace uses unconventional methods to show that the “normal” commencement speech is not the only way to inspire a group of graduates, and that clichés do not have to be used to make strong points.  

     Throughout the speech, Wallace continuously fights clichés by using them, then deviating from them while still proving his points. At the beginning of his speech, Wallace starts out with an old parable of and old fish and two young fish, explaining how stories such as those are a requirement of commencement speeches, and stating that he is inclined to talk about the meaning and value of the liberal arts education. He then states:

So let’s talk about the single most pervasive cliché in the commencement speech genre, which is that a liberal arts education is not so much about filling you up with knowledge as it is about quote teaching how to think. If you’re like me as a student, you’ve never liked hearing this, and you tend to feel a bit insulted by the claim that you needed anybody to teach you how to think… but I’m going to posit to you that the liberal art’s cliché turns out not to be insulting at all, because the really significant education in thinking that we’re supposed to get in a place like this isn’t really about the capacity to think, but rather about the choice of what to think of. (Wallace XI)

Here, the reader sees Wallace mention and use clichés in speeches only to deviate away from them as he goes on to prove his point, that point being a liberal arts education is not only to learn how to think, but also to learn the choice of what you think, meaning you have a choice to think empathically or selfishly. Wallace goes on to use another story about a religious man, and an atheist. The story illustrates how the same experience can mean two different things for two different people, and that it always comes from what is on the inside.  Instead of choosing one side or the other, Wallace uses this story to prove a point. He explains, “The point here is that I think that is one part of what teaching me how to think is really supposed to mean. To be a little less arrogant. To have a just a little critical awareness about myself and my certainties.” (Wallace XII) Instead of using the implied conventional meaning of the story, Wallace draws his own conclusions, giving new perspective to parable to help him drive home his point of choice of thought. 

     Wallace continues his use of unconventional methods throughout the story, challenging people the change their default setting instead of giving in to the easy way of thinking. Wallace uses the example of a busy grocery store, noting how traffic would probably be terrible getting there, how over-crowed the store and parking lot would be, the lack of open check-out lanes, and a falsely friendly store clerk who resembles death when checking you out. (Wallace XIV) Wallace then notes again the tendency of humans to think about how this series of unfortunate events effects them and them only, and also mentions how he could look at it from a liberal-arts perspective and point out social flaws within the given situation. But instead of using a routine narrow liberal-arts perspective, Wallace explains how one can take into consideration how these events may be affecting everyone besides yourself, and how important it is to fight against your default setting, and become “well-adjusted”. This is another example of Wallace fighting conventional methods to prove his point, as he argues for sympathetic perspective rather than one focused on one’s self. He states:

If you’re automatically sure that you know what reality is, and you are operating on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won’t consider possibilities that aren’t annoying and miserable.  But if you really learn how to pay attention, then you will know there are other options. It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred, on fire with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down. (Wallace XV)

The use of this quote directly after arguing for those who may think about the grocery store situation in terms of themselves only illustrate an unconventional argument tactic that helps Wallace prove his point. He initially uses pathos as a tool to help show why you may not fall in line with the “well-adjusted” way of thinking, but immediately uses the same persuasion technique to argue for his conceptual point. This is exceptional use of persuasion to prove a point., and does not use any clichés to drive home the concept. 

      Wallace’s use of unconventional methods show that one does not have to use clichés and usual methods to drive home strong concepts, rather that they can go potentially in any direction when trying to prove a point. It is not limited to using already proven methods of persuasion, as shown by Wallace’s use of pathos in his speech to highlight both the counterargument and central argument of his speech. This piece has inspired people long after its debut, as people continuously cite this monumental speech today as the reason they changed their outlook on life. The lessons learned from David Foster’s Wallace’s “This is Water” have proven to be priceless, and will continue to influence people for years to come. 

 


