In 2005, David Foster Wallace delivered a commencement speech titled, “This is Water” to the graduating class of Kenyon College. Typically, commencement speeches deliver a message of hope, promise, and success to the freshly educated adults, however, David Wallace’s speech shockingly focused on the symbolism and theme of death. Throughout his speech, Wallace continually referred to this symbol of death, as well as used death as an adjective to describe multiple scenarios and various lessons. The repetitive use of the word death created rather an eerie mood.  However, David Foster Wallace alters the use and meaning of the word death to successfully convey a strong and powerful message, “to stay conscious and alive.”

In the beginning of his speech, David Foster Wallace approaches this idea of banal platitudes, and the importance of how they are viewed. Banal platitudes are phrases or remarks that are so commonly used in our society that they are often considered boring, or even common sense. Common platitudes include, “Everything happens for a reason,” or “There’s no I in team.” Some may find these phrases annoying even though they have solid messages, but how one views these shibboleths can make a difference. David Foster Wallace stated, “Banal platitudes can have a life or death importance” (Page X1). In this quote Wallace implies that the way we view these annoying or some-what cheesy clichés can determine how we live our lives. By viewing these quotes as boring, a person is likely to view everyday activities as disinteresting, and may become unwelcoming to new opportunities offered around them. On the other hand, by being open to these somewhat inspirational quotes, a person’s outlook on life can become much more enlightening. When something retains to a life or death importance, it is usually referring to a physical safety precaution that should be taken. For example, wearing your seatbelt can have a life or death importance, or wearing your helmet while riding your bike can have a life or death importance. When David Foster Wallace states that banal platitudes can have a life or death importance it is almost as if he is saying that the way we view common clichés could cause death if not viewed correctly. However, Wallace is more implying that viewing banal platitudes as an annoyance can metaphorically cause death. He is suggesting that maybe life would be better if we took a more positive and accepting approach when it comes to common phrases and the little things in life. It would be easier to stay conscious and alive if we were to mean the phrases we say, and take in meaningful life lessons with a little more than a grain of salt. 

Suicide can be a sensitive topic to talk about, and David Foster Wallace brings up the point that the perpetrator in most suicides that involve a firearm almost always shoot himself or herself in the head as to destroy the psychological master. Adult life can be repetitive, boring, and improbable to creating new experiences. Adults fall into a routine of waking up, going to work, running errands, going to bed, and then to repeat that same routine all over again the next day. This routine can be deadly for one’s self-control. It can be frustrating when an every-day routine does not workout accordingly to plan. When this routine does not alter, adults become less excited to try new things; or on the other hand, a repetitive routine can exhaust one of doing the same old same old. David Foster Wallace comments, “And the truth is that most of these suicides are actually dead long before they pull the trigger” (Page XIII). He is suggesting that those who commit suicide to turn off their routine and frustration have been “dead” psychologically for a long time and just could not take it anymore. It is possible for one to be physically alive, able to breath, have a beating heart, and be “dead” on the inside, meaning that one may not be motivated to complete everyday tasks, nor display any emotions or reactions to tragic or momentous events. David Foster Wallace uses the unsettling imagery of suicide and metaphor of killing the psychological master to strengthen his argument to avoid the default setting. Being forced to end the psychological master is something you want to avoid at all cost and that starts with changing your repetitive routine, and having a more selfless mindset. To allow the psychological master to control the body in a sane matter will allow for a more wakeful and selfless conscious.

David Foster Wallace says that everybody, whether an atheist or not, worships and believes in something, but one must be careful because what you choose to worship can tear you apart. If you believe in money and power, you will never be satisfied with the amount of money or power you have. It will destroy you to not have the amount you desire and that is why beliefs can be so dangerous. David Foster Wallace said, “And when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally grieve you.” (Page XVI). If what you desire or worship is beauty and body shape, then the inevitable aging process that awaits you will completely ruin your mindset. You will never be satisfied with yourself causing damage to your self-esteem and conscious that before you physically die, you will have already been dead mentally. Similar to the symbolism of metaphorically dying in the previous passage, it is not possible to physically die a million deaths. You only get one life and you will only die once. Metaphorically speaking, David Foster Wallace presents the idea that never being satisfied with yourself causes the internal death, the death that occurs when you are alive physically, but dead on the inside. Foster Wallace refers to the dissatisfaction of oneself and incapability to show emotion as death. Every time you are not satisfied with your well-being you have metaphorically “died” and this will continue to occur unless you change your beliefs and outlooks on life. Death is a terrible, tragic event that dying a million metaphorical deaths before physically dying sounds like absolute torture. Once again, David Foster Wallace uses unsettling imagery to urge the audience to have a more positive outlook on life, and make the most of the worst situations. 

Although death is an uneasy topic, especially when presented at a graduation ceremony, David Foster Wallace uses death metaphorically to persuade the audience to stay open-minded, and to avoid falling into the default setting. By breaking through this setting, you can open your mind to new opportunities, and have a more uplifting personality. The message given is to be more aware of those around you and to avoid falling into a pattern that will bore the mind, and result in internal death. The repetitive use of death in “This is Water” creates a strong need to become less selfish as to avoid “dying a million deaths” before you are actually dead. Although death is repeated multiple times throughout the speech, the main advice given was to “stay conscious and alive.”
