
What makes others think different then you? In this short speech, David Foster Wallace uses certain methods to explain why this is. Throughout literature, many authors use repetition of certain phrases, literary devices, symbols and words to get their point across. A strong example of this is found in Wallace’s “This is Water”, as he repeatedly tells stories that share the same central theme or idea, in his commencement speech to the graduating class of Kenyon College in 2005. Wallace’s main thought in this commencement speech is that your choices may filter experiences in life so that you may see events in a different way than others may, Wallace uses two tales and two more personal situations to convey the theme of his speech.

Starting off his speech, Wallace introduces a small short story about two fish. The much older fish asks two younger fish, “How’s the water?” and the two fish are confused, as they do not see the reality of what they are swimming in. Wallace goes on to say, “The point of the fish story is mere obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.” (Wallace X). In this instance Wallace is trying to convey the possibility that big ideas and thoughts in life are very hard to identify. Many people go much of their lives without looking into the realities that, though they might not know it, affect them every day. Their ideals somewhat create a filter on life so that they can only experience and realize some things. 

As Wallace tells yet another story, he starts off with an atheist and a theist, who both have different aspects on life and have very opposite views on theism. After getting lost in a blizzard, the atheist prays to god for help, and Eskimos come save him and lead him back to camp. The different views on life give them to different thoughts on the situation. A great example from the story shows the two aspects on life, “’Well then you must believe now’ (the religious man) says, ‘After all, here you are, alive.’ The atheist rolls his eyes. ‘No man, all that was a couple Eskimos happened to come wandering by and showed me the way back to camp.” (Wallace XI). If the religious person was in the same situation, their reaction would be completely different than the atheist just because the man who believes in god would think it is God answering his prayers, while the atheist just would think it was bound to happen since the Eskimos were coming that way anyways. Their “filters” on life (preferences relating to religion) give them a different window in to seeing and perceiving, so that an event like this could mean two opposite things to the both of them. Wallace goes on to explain what made them that way, why they see things differently. He narrows it down to choice, saying, “We never end up talking about just where these individual templates and beliefs come from. Meaning, where they come from INSIDE the two guys.” (Wallace XII). In Wallace’s view on this interpretation he explains how arrogance comes from when you are so sure of your choice, you cannot possibly believe the other choice. This should be interpreted similar to, “Though it may not agree with your morals, ideas, beliefs, etc., you should have “critical awareness” (As Wallace describes it) about yourself and your own ideas.” In the circumstances of this story, this could be deciphered as the theist putting himself in the atheist’s shoes, or vice versa.

The last example was Wallace’s breakdown of driving home, and dealing with traffic. He uses traffic to show that many people think about themselves, giving them a different view on everything they experience. His example was getting angry at all the giant SUVs that take up the road and how inconsiderate it was of them to use such ridiculously unnecessary cars, but when he widened his view and calmed down he realized there could be a possibility that maybe the driver of the SUV was involved in a bad accident and the only way they could continue driving without being scared was to buy an SUV. Wallace purposely tries to think in a different way to view the situation as someone other than himself, not trying to assume the driver is just a jerk who hates the environment. To start, his view was very narrow because he was only worried about himself and not thinking about what the driver could have been through. He was arrogant, he wasn’t using critical awareness and putting himself in the driver’s shoes. 

Using these examples of stories each time, Wallace presents an idea that views on life are composed by and limited to what we have and/or will experience. His commencement speech shows us that the choices you make skew your view of others and the world. Having an open mind, or how Wallace describes it as “critical awareness”, will truly free your mentality so that you are not locked in on one choice or on one opinion. During times where your ideals are challenged by something you have an opposite or different choice (or thought/opinion of) you may become more understanding and less arrogant during the situation if you put yourself in another’s shoes, and become aware of their situation. 

 