The style in which an author constructs their piece can send readers running or pull them into the writing. David Foster Wallace the author of “This is Water” uses a style that most authors don’t have the courage to. Wallace writes in a tone that is sarcastic but also attempts to be serious about dark topics. He often uses double sided ideas, meaning that you can read it word for word and it will have one meaning, but if you think about it there is also a deeper meaning behind the simple idea. However, Wallace’s most important style in his writing and what separates him from other writers is his use of intense imagery.

“This is water” opens to fish swimming and talking to each other, the image is also introduced with a sense of humor. Unlike most other authors of this style of piece Wallace opens with imagery, his own form of a hook sentence making the reader intrigued by what comes next. Imagery has its own hook, making the piece relatable. A piece that illustrates a world or scenario that anyone can see opens the readers mind to a new world. The topic of Wallace’s whole piece was to explain that not every moment of your life is going to be good or even make sense. His use of imagery with the fish, who don’t even know they are swimming in water makes the piece more relatable. Imagery allows the reader to be “there”, this would not be as obtainable if it were written in a normal essay fashion explaining using clichés and other over used methods, with deep metaphors.

Wallace’s usage of imagery intensifies as the piece progresses, depicting putting a gun to your head, and even buying groceries. The imagery is something we can mostly all relate too. Not the potential suicide, but buying groceries in a poorly lit shopping center with bratty kids and other grumpy people. When the piece is relatable we are more likely to be pulled into what is happening. Understanding the top meaning to what he is describing. However, if you look underneath all his imagery he is telling a deep meaning. That everyone has a story too, and that the world doesn’t just revolve around you. The depth of his imagery allows for there to be several meanings to what he is telling, and every person may see or relate to it in a different way.

Wallace depicts an image of you wanting to have emotions throughout life, being happy, mad and sad, so “you can make it to forty or fifty without wanting to shoot yourself in the head”.  The image of suicide by gun is a dark one, but again like earlier in the piece the intense imagery is used to catch your attention. The image of that is something most people never face, but the style in which he states it any reader can be a part of it though reading. His use of double sided imagery allows the reader to see this dark topic without out them every trying it in person, potentially saving someone life. He uses this imagery to show that people need to focus on themselves but at the same time be considerate of others, and find that healthy medium.

Other authors if they were to attack the same topics they would use lots of clichés and would not hit topics straight on. An author trying to talk about how a person should try and make it further in their life without paragraphs running on and on, making the topic not so dark and more politically correct. His use of imagery can be straight forward and harsh. Tackling topics straight on while the reader can relate and mentally be in the situation too. 

Wallace’s use of imagery separates his style of writing from other authors. Creating a world within his piece that the reader can relate to and be a part of and not just read and skim over. If Wallace did not use such intense imagery, the piece would not be the same. The imagery used allows there too be a larger message hidden within. The imagery creates a sense of being within the piece, and when Wallace tells you to take another look at it you can mentally see what he means and even see what the other side is. His use of intense imagery allows for a complex read with multiple meanings but is still realtable.