Eric Lawrence

Professor Padgett
ENG 101
9/6/15
What is Water?

David Foster Wallace, an esteemed public figure, delivers his This Is Water speech to a
vulnerable group of graduates and he misleads them in many different ways. Wallace states that
all people have a default setting (Wallace, 7) that leads them into the monotonous life style of
work and no play. However, all people are not created equally. There is a very large difference
between the wealthy CEO of a large business who can live a life of luxury and the lowly

Commented [1]: Why do you say they are

vulnerable? because they are college students? Can
college students not think for themselves? Im not sure
what youre implying here.
Commented [2]: This is a really compelling claim here.
Id like to read more on this idea. But it does seem out
of place here. Or abrupt. Im not sure why youve
placed this sentence here.

secretary who works forty hours a week to support his or her family. David Wallaces delivery of
his speech paints a picture of a dreary future that wrongfully stunts the growing lives of these
graduates. This Is Water is meant to help people keep their lives grounded and pragmatic
however, the most successful people can only strive towards greatness with a more self-centered

Commented [3]: This too is a compelling argument.

mindset.
David Foster Wallace introduces his speech with a dreary monologue about the terrible
day-to-day events of the average adult life. The extended grocery store story is all but very
unpleasant and is the exact opposite of what graduates need to hear. Students are already aware

Commented [4]: Do you think they should be told an

untrue, but happier story?

of the abundance of opportunities in the world but they need to be pushed gracefully into the
difficulty of deciding which path to choose, not scared away. Bill Gates, one of the most

Commented [5]: Okay, this is a fair point. But where

would they get scared off away to?

successful men ever to live, started out like every high school student but what made him
extraordinary was his lack of fear; he was not afraid to fail. Wallaces speech shoots the idea of
monotony into the minds of these fresh graduates when what they need to be told is that they can

Commented [6]: How do you know this? Also, is

Wallace talking about being afraid of life? Or
encouraging fear in life?

achieve anything they want and to strive for greatness. David Foster Wallace ought to talk about
the obscure limitless possibilities of life, rather than the most likely, lame outcome of ...that you
graduating seniors do not yet have any clue what day in, day out really means...One such part

Commented [7]: Is he suggesting that life is limited? If

so where does he suggest this? I dont think that the
quote that proceeds this is talking about limits in
possibilities or options.

involves boredom, routine, and petty frustration.(Wallace 3). Every student possesses the
ability to do great things, but if they are told that their lives are destined to be awful and filled
with frustration, then they will have no reason to work towards excellence.
David Foster Wallaces idea of worship demonstrates his idea of self-centeredness and he
wishes to illustrate this in a negative light but really there is no downside to objective worship.
Wallace states that Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.(Wallace
7) While this is true, he does not approve of the worship of money or the worship of self. These
ideas of worship are almost a necessity in the growth of a graduate joining the workforce. Money
and power should be the holistic view of an emerging worker in order to generate success more
quickly and earlier in life. The fear of failure is a very powerful driving force that can create a
CEO out of any willing graduate. Now, these worships would not be ideal in the life that David
Foster Wallace presents in the beginning of his speech. However, the life he presents is also not
ideal. The worship of power and success has the ability to drive young workers to take extra
hours, stay late at the office, or even just go above and beyond on the first presentation. These
small steps driven by the desire to succeed can help one of these graduates attain a much more
comfortable position in the corporation, which would help them avoid the struggles of the
average day-to-day schedule.
The hypocritical nature of David Foster Wallaces This Is Water speech stems from his
conclusion about how much of a struggle life really is and that the default lifestyle is not to be
looked upon lightly. Wallace states that this monotonous life style is so unbearable that it is an

Commented [8]: Why? Does more money necessarily

mean more happiness? Does quick success mean
more happiness?

accomplishment to live to 30, or maybe 50, without wanting to [be shot]. . . in the head. (8). This
statement, after its initial fear shock, holds no power because of Wallaces own suicide in 2008.
Wallace has the audacity to diminish the hopeful futures of thousands of graduates but doesnt
have the grit to take his own advice, resulting in the premature end of his own life. The graduates
still possess the endless power to control the outcomes of their own lives and not fall victim to
the unsatisfactory day-to-day routine. David Foster Wallaces distorted pessimistic outlook on
life did not allow him to deliver the expected motivational commencement speech and he,
potentially ruined the lives of hundreds of graduates.
David Foster Wallace delivers This Is Water in a very powerful and influential way; that
is the worst possible way for these graduates to receive his ideas. The malleable minds of the
graduates are shown hopelessness and the potential, miserable day-to-day life that haunts
Wallace. David Foster Wallaces toxic idea of life leads him to deliver the most unnecessarily
negative commencement speech to the very susceptible minds of the graduates. Although he
intends to give the graduates a realistic perspective on life, his own negative mindset drags his
speech down into a horrific spew of negativity and anguish. David Foster Wallaces negative
outlook on life at the time of his speech ruined the most motivating and exciting listening
experience of these graduates lives and diminished their desires of learning and success.

Eric,
It seems to me that your thesis here is about how you disagree with Wallaces message. I really
like how you are creating friction and therefore a dialog for readers. Im not sure a lot of your
claims are grounded in what Wallace is saying. There seems to be a lot of assumptions here as
opposed to clear evidence to support your points (Ive highlighted these in the margins). I think
your comments on how his suicide affects the meaning of this piece is interesting and

compelling, and you could probably write an entire paper on that alone: that Wallace is really
talking about his own struggles with depression rather than offering a traditional commencement
address. Because, you are right in that hes not delivering the conventional, positive, lifeaffirming message. So maybe you could ask why that is and the answer to that question could
really drive this essay.