
In “This is Water” by David Foster Wallace patterns, language, tone and other elements of the text to discuss his meaning and purpose of the piece is used. He uses repetition to emphasize concepts and ideas. For example, the concept of traffic is repeated and the subject about water is spoken more than once. The tone of the piece is inspiring. The overarching theme of David Foster Wallace’s speech is the importance and struggle of mindfulness in the modern era.

Wallace is not trying to lecture us into being better people; he is nearly trying to tell us to open up our eyes to the world. He wants us to see that there is so much more to life than our self-absorbed lives. Wallace states, “The point here is that I think this is one part of what teaching me how to think is really supposed to mean. To be just a little less arrogant. To have just a little critical awareness about myself and my certainties. Because a huge percentage of the stuff that I tend to be automatically certain of is, it turns out, totally wrong and deluded” (David Foster Wallace, XII). Each individual human has little importance when looking at the big picture. 

 The reason Wallace was so depressed was because he saw all this pain in the world. He could do nothing to stop it. He wanted people to live happier, healthier lives but they did nothing to change it for themselves. He felt powerless- he was in pain and ended his life. He wants his audience to realize they don’t have to feel alone inside. It was too much for him to handle and he committed suicide by hanging himself. Wallace also refers to suicide in his speech, “adults who commit suicide with firearms almost always shoot themselves in: the head. They shoot the terrible master…most of these suicides are actually dead long before they pull the trigger” (Wallace, XIII). A powerful message describing how desperate people are before actually committing suicide. This also refers to the idea that the relapse happens before the actual relapse or first drink. Suicidal people visualize their suicide or relapse before even committing the action, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs. Wallace suffered from severe alcohol and drug addiction and alludes to recovery concepts frequently throughout his speech. The Twelve step recovery program although successful only works if executed. Wallace talks about the constant need for control that comes along with addiction. This is exemplified when he says, “you will need ever more power over others to numb you to your own fear” (Wallace, XVI). Addictions are typically a result of numbing the mental and physical pain that one goes through. 

Wallace uses the metaphor of water repeatedly throughout his speech. When he says, “this is water” he is not actually talking about real water. He is talking about the idea that we could be living our daily lives and not even realizing anything going on around us. Like the example of the fish in the water. The fish did not even know what water was. Fish need water to survive; however, fish have no idea what water actually is. Wallace explains the scenario of the fish, “an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says ‘morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes ‘What the hell is water?’”(Wallace, X). It’s like asking another individual How is life? And the individual response “what the hell is life?”. This is true. Nobody really knows. Wallace says, “The capital-T Truth is about life BEFORE death. It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over” (Wallace, XVII). Technology is also a big distraction with the world. In today’s society it is hard for us to see the beauty around us because we are so focused on our electronic devices. Once people put down technology they will begin to realize the world is bigger than themselves. The world is not being recognized and appreciated the way it should be. The only reason one is alive is because of nature and evolution. Put down the device and look around. It is an amazing experience when one can begin to see things they never saw before and notice things they never noticed before. Exactly how the fish never noticed it was living in water. The one thing that was keeping it alive. The natural functions of the world are keeping us alive. If photosynthesis did not exist, we wouldn’t have oxygen. If oxygen didn’t exist, humans would not exist. The world is taken for granted and is forgotten to be appreciated. A powerful gift that is given to each human. It is hard for one to be mindful when there are so many distractions around us.

Another instance when Wallace uses repetition is when he talks about traffic. In the middle of his speech he mentions, “you finally get to the checkout line’s front, and you pay for your food, and you get told to ‘Have a nice day’ in a voice that is the absolute voice of death… and then you have to drive all the way home through slow, heavy, SUV-intensive, rush-hour traffic” (Wallace, XIV).  Wallace continues to say, “if I don’t make a conscious decision about how to think and what to pay attention to, I’m gonna be pissed and miserable” (Wallace, XIV).  The initial thoughts are uncontrollable but the following thoughts are a choice. When practicing mindfulness one can shift their awareness and determine the outcome of a situation. Whether it may be happiness, sadness, or anger. Another example Wallace uses about traffic is, “…the Hummer that just cut me off is maybe being driven by a father whose little child is hurt or sick in the seat next to him, and he’s trying to get his kid to the hospital, and he’s in a bigger, more legitimate hurry than I am: it is actually I who am in HIS way” (Wallace, XV). One can learn to build empathy and give others the most generous assumption which feeling irritated. This will help one control their experience of a situation and overall mood.

David Foster Wallace was a brilliant writer and speaker. He obtained deep, meaningful thoughts. Wallace saw a different perspective on the world that most never come to see. Wallace didn’t take the world for granted. He experienced pain and suffering and watched it happen all around him. It is important to practice mindfulness, because we will start to become one with ourselves. Through active participation of mindfulness one can begin to see a new perspective on life and hopefully begin to live more wholeheartedly. Everyone has a choice in life. Mindfulness leads to inner peace. One’s life doesn’t need to be peaceful for one to be at peace. 
