
In the speech “This is Water,” David Wallace uses the idea of default setting, short parables, and vivid imagery to show that all people, not just the graduates, have the ability to choose what to think and how they will react to life’s variables. In a shortened explanation, people just need to think with an open mind. The speech was directed to graduating seniors and their parents at Kenyon University. David Foster Wallace wanted the audience to understand that life outside of school is tough. Wallace once said, “It is unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive in the adult world day in and day out” (XVII). Nothing in life is easy, but choosing to think with an open mind may help in the long run. 

The vivid imagery in this speech was created with the fish and bar story. Wallace started off the speech with a short parable about two young and one older fish. This story was significant to the theme of the text because the young fish weren’t aware of their surroundings. When the older fish asked, “How’s the water?” the younger ones didn’t understand the question. They didn’t know what the very thing keeping them alive was. The young fish were fixated on the smaller picture rather than the bigger one. The image of fish not understanding their surroundings eludes to how people don’t comprehend others viewpoints and surroundings. It’s similar to how the religious and atheist gentlemen were too blind and stubborn to realize that both viewpoints work (explained later on). In both, they paint a picture of absolute blindness. Blindness refers to how they can’t see the bigger picture. If the fish and the gentlemen were aware of their situations/surroundings, they would be able to choose to think more openly. 

Wallace used the idea of “Default setting,” to contribute to the theme of the text. But what is the true meaning of default setting? It is “to be deeply and literally self-centered and to see and interpret everything through this lens of self” (Foster XII). Thinking within ones default setting is exactly opposite of thinking with an open mind.  In the definition Wallace expressed, the word that stood out was “self-centered.” Ones default setting makes them think about oneself. Not about their family and friends, only themselves. Wallace said: 

Think about it: there is no experience you have had that you are not the absolute center of. The world as you experience it is there in front of YOU or behind YOU, to the left or right of YOU, on YOUR TV or YOUR monitor. (XII)

Most people can reflect on that statement and think that the quote doesn’t pertain to them. They are wrong. Almost everyone subconsciously is like that. Selfishness is within everyone. People subconsciously choose their default setting, which hinders the way one should think. Not just the graduating students, but all of society needs to overcome this tendency. If society strayed away from their mental norm (default setting), and chose to think more openly, then life becomes more fulfilling. 

The short stories prove that thinking with an open mind is essential for a prosperous life. In the second story, Wallace talked about an atheist and a religious gentleman’s conversation. In a summed up version, the two men fought over the existence of god. The atheist then told an arguable story. Although the two men are entitled to their own belief, both were too blind to understand that their points were plausible. Wallace stated that an experience “…can mean two totally different things to two different people, given those people’s two different belief templates and two different ways of constructing meaning from experience” (XI). This statement shows their default settings. It’s like figuring out symbols from a text. One may see an apple while the other sees an apple orchard. The two gentlemen didn’t want to believe in the others viewpoint. They were too narrow-minded and only saw one path. If the two were more open- minded the dispute would be nonexistent. In turn, the gentlemen would comprehend the other opinion without having to express it. 

The next story was about a hypothetical adult day. It consisted of many everyday routines. Waking up early every morning, going to work, shopping, and repeating it over again. This puts a lot of stress on people’s minds. Now add in traffic, long lines when shopping, and going to bed late. Life starts to get harder. All this adds to ones stress, anger, and frustration. Many people would think negatively about a day like that. How can you blame them? A day full of hardships causes many negative emotions. David Wallace said:

Or I can choose to force myself to consider the likelihood that everyone else in the supermarket’s checkout line is just as bored and frustrated as I am, and that some of these people probably have harder, more tedious and painful lives than I do. (XV)

 This quote exemplifies what thinking with an open mind is about. People don’t understand that things could be worse. Instead of being in line for food at a store, one could be in jail, waiting on their plate of food. The attention grabbing word in the quote is “choose.” This is part of the point Wallace is trying to convey. We all can choose to think a certain way, but it’s more beneficial to think properly and stay away from ones self-centeredness. This parable is important because it gives proof that thinking open-minded is paramount for a better life.

 This speech had a very clear theme. Without the idea of default setting and the use of short parables that created meaningful imagery, the theme would be different. Wallace’s purpose was for each student to understand that life outside of school is challenging. All one needs is self-awareness, than being able to choose what to think becomes more natural and beneficial. To think is part of the lesson, but “… the freedom of choice regarding what to think about…” is really the most important aspect to gain from his speech (Foster XI). Society just needs to continuously remember that, “This is water.”
