In David Foster Wallace’s, “This is Water,” rhetorical techniques such as the repetition of the word “water,” audience appeals, metaphors, and tone are used to show the theme of positive thinking that will shed light on those who have a narcissistic character trait. Rather than thinking cynically, Wallace urges the graduating students to think with optimism and compassion and look for the best in the world around them.

The word “water” is used throughout Wallace’s commencement speech; however, each time it resembles another meaning. “Water” is first seen when the older fish asks the younger fish, “How’s the water?” (X) In confusion the younger fish simply, in return, asks “What the hell is water?” (X)  In this context, “water” represents society as a whole. The younger fish is unable to recognize what the elder fish meant by “water” as it’s a metaphor of how people’s ignorance keeps them from the knowledge of what is happening in the world around them. People generally only focus on the issues that affect them directly; however, society can only function as a unit, and as people grow further from society, it begins to fall. By changing the meaning of “water” to symbolize human beings natural self-focus and society, Wallace can reach deeper into the audience’s emotions. Everyone will deny their natural selfish state of mind, but Wallace’s audience all can agree that it is not unusual to act in the manner he explains. By Wallace calling out these negative lifestyles, it pressures the audience to feel guilt for thinking in such a negative tone. In other context, “water” also means day to day lifestyle, or the problems other’s face. This again relates back to the selfishness of human beings.  Though, in different context, “water” can mean something different but they all relate back to the theme and to each different meaning. 

People are selfish and as today’s society grows older, people are very much blind-sided in society. Wallace uses himself as an example to explain the selfishness people carry around with them: “MY hungriness and MY fatigue and MY desire to just get home, and it’s going to seem for all the world like everybody else is just in my way.” (XIV) Wallace gives a relatable persona in attempt to explain the many ways to think critically. Wallace also says, “Again, please don’t think that I’m giving you moral advice, or that I’m saying you’re supposed to think this way... because it’s hard, it takes will and mental effort, and if you’re like me, some days you won’t be able to do it, or you just flat-out won’t want to.”(XIV) Continuing to talk about himself and relate to the audience, he is able to avoid alienating them by making himself seem less than perfect. No one is perfect, and Wallace explains that thinking critically is challenging and will not come easy. Which in turn shows them that he too makes mistakes and also finds it hard to change the way he thinks. This manages to appeal to ethos by discrediting himself.  When David Foster Wallace is talking to a group of graduating students, which are not always known to listen to authority, he is able to connect more with the audience through ethos by not being able to credit himself in those actions

Throughout Wallace’s commencement speech, his connection grows stronger with the audience by also appealing to their emotions. He begins off by explaining that he once was just like them and believed that no one needed to tell them how to think. They were accepted into college and now graduating, why would anyone need to tell them how to think? He then continues his speech by saying that people shouldn’t “worship money and things.” (XII) He also points out the negative lifestyle of people these days by talking about worshipping material goods and evil throughout his speech. He calls out the negative lifestyle of the graduating students in hopes to turn their thinking into something more optimistic and critical. Later, Wallace makes a point blank statement about suicide: “It is not the least bit coincidental that adults who commit suicide with firearms almost always shoot themselves in: the head. They shoot the terrible master. And the truth is that most of these suicides are actually long dead before they pull the trigger.” (XIII) This statement is one of those breath taking sentences that wouldn’t be expected to discuss at a graduating ceremony. Most people don’t talk about suicide at a commencement speech, but Wallace’s chooses to do so, in hopes to get his point across to the graduating students. People can get so involved in their personal life and naturally think negatively that their minds can become the “terrible master.” (XIII) His statement reaches deeper into the audience and urges them to find the good things in life and realize not is everything about them. Suicide has become such a big part in today’s society, and is very much a touchy topic. By making this statement and calling out adults committing suicide, which is usually unheard of, he really expresses the pathos of this commencement speech.

Through the use of ethos, pathos, tone and repetition, David Foster Wallace successfully gives a commencement speech that blows the mind of the graduating students. By bringing these appeals upon the audience he is able to reach out and convince these students to think in a more critical way. He is able to bring to light more about the future and what it holds as these graduating students move on to their next chapter in life. He doesn’t hold back the truth, or anything at all, and is able to make them understand that thinking more positively will bring a happier, healthier life as they grow older.