Existential Ripples Navigating This Is Water By David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace's 'This Is Water' is more than a commencement address; it's a profound exploration of conscious living and the struggle against default settings. This analysis unpacks its core arguments about awareness, empathy, and choosing where to direct one's attention. We examine how Wallace uses relatable anecdotes and philosophical insights to challenge the audience to confront the inherent difficulties of everyday existence. The piece offers practical strategies for cultivating a more meaningful and less self-centered life, making it a vital text for understanding contemporary existential thought and personal growth.
The 'default setting' of self-centeredness is a primary obstacle to a meaningful life.
True freedom comes not from external circumstances but from the conscious choice of what to think about.
Empathy is an active, difficult practice of imagining the perspectives and struggles of others.
Mundane, frustrating experiences are the most critical arenas for practicing conscious awareness and choosing one's perspective.
Wallace's message is a call to rigorous self-discipline and a deliberate redirection of attention, not passive optimism.
Assignment brief
Write an essay analyzing the central arguments of David Foster Wallace's 'This Is Water' commencement speech. Your essay should identify Wallace's core message regarding the challenges of conscious living and the importance of empathy. Discuss how he uses personal anecdotes and philosophical reasoning to support his claims. Evaluate the effectiveness of his rhetorical strategies in engaging the audience and prompting self-reflection. Conclude by considering the speech's enduring relevance in contemporary society.
Reference example
David Foster Wallace’s 2005 Kenyon College commencement address, famously titled 'This Is Water,' transcends the typical platitudes of such events. It functions instead as a stark, yet ultimately hopeful, meditation on the nature of consciousness, the pervasive default settings of the ego, and the deliberate, difficult work of choosing what to think about. Wallace doesn’t offer easy answers; rather, he presents a compelling case for the necessity of constant, conscious effort in navigating the mundane realities of adult life, urging graduates to recognize the profound existential implications embedded within the seemingly trivial.
At its heart, the speech grapples with the inherent difficulty of escaping one’s own perspective. Wallace begins with a parable about two young fish encountering an older fish who asks, 'How’s the water?' The young fish, oblivious, swim on. This simple story serves as a powerful metaphor for the unthinking, unexamined existence most people lead. We are, Wallace suggests, immersed in our own 'water' – our immediate experiences, our ingrained beliefs, our self-centered narratives – without often recognizing its presence or its influence. This default setting, he argues, is the source of much of our unhappiness and our tendency towards judgment and frustration, particularly in the face of life’s inevitable annoyances.
Wallace’s central thesis revolves around the idea that true freedom and meaning are not found in external circumstances but in the conscious cultivation of awareness and empathy. He challenges the notion that a college education, or any form of intellectual achievement, automatically liberates one from this existential predicament. Instead, he posits that the real work begins after graduation, in the grocery store aisles, at the DMV, or in traffic jams. These are the crucibles where the 'worship' Wallace speaks of is truly tested. He provocates the audience by suggesting that what we choose to worship – be it money, pleasure, power, or even just being right – shapes our entire experience of reality. The alternative he proposes is a conscious choice to worship differently, to find meaning not in the self, but in acknowledging the shared humanity and hidden struggles of others.
He illustrates this point through vivid, often humorous, descriptions of everyday frustrations. The man cutting him off in traffic, the cashier’s perceived slowness – these are moments where the default setting screams, 'This is all about ME!' Wallace urges listeners to pause, to consider the possibility that the other person might be experiencing a personal tragedy, or simply be exhausted. This act of imaginative empathy, of consciously choosing to see beyond one's immediate annoyance, is the 'hard work' of freedom. It requires a deliberate redirection of attention, a willingness to suspend judgment, and an acceptance that life is not always about our own comfort or convenience.
Wallace acknowledges the difficulty of this endeavor. He admits that he himself struggles with it daily. This self-awareness and vulnerability lend his message a profound authenticity. He is not preaching from an ivory tower; he is sharing his own hard-won, ongoing battle. The speech is not a call to naive optimism, but a pragmatic guide to enduring the inherent suffering of existence with grace and compassion. By choosing to see the 'water' – the shared human condition – we can move from a place of automatic, self-centered reaction to one of conscious, empathetic engagement. This shift, Wallace implies, is the most meaningful pursuit available to us, offering a path toward a richer, more authentic existence, even amidst the inescapable banality of the everyday.
Analysis of 'This Is Water': Structure and Core Arguments
David Foster Wallace’s 'This Is Water' is structured as a commencement address, but its content rapidly moves beyond conventional well-wishes to engage with profound philosophical and psychological themes. The speech opens with a narrative anecdote – the parable of the two young fish – which immediately establishes a central metaphor for unexamined existence. This narrative hook draws the audience in and sets the stage for Wallace’s subsequent exploration of consciousness and default settings. He then transitions into a direct address, articulating his core argument: that the real challenge of adulthood lies not in intellectual pursuits but in the conscious, daily effort to choose one’s perspective and overcome the ego’s inherent self-centeredness.
Thesis and Claim: The Imperative of Conscious Choice
Wallace’s central thesis is that the most crucial aspect of living a meaningful life is the conscious, deliberate choice of what to think about, particularly in mundane and frustrating situations. He argues that our default setting is one of self-centeredness, where we automatically interpret events through the lens of our own immediate needs and desires. This leads to frustration, judgment, and a diminished capacity for empathy. His claim is that true freedom and a richer experience of life are achieved by actively resisting this default, by choosing to be aware, to consider others’ perspectives, and to find value in the shared human experience, even in the face of banality and inconvenience. This is not a call for blind optimism, but for a rigorous, ongoing practice of mental discipline and empathy.
Evidence and Rhetorical Strategy
Wallace employs a blend of personal anecdote, philosophical reasoning, and vivid, relatable examples to support his claims. The fish parable is a foundational piece of evidence, illustrating the concept of being unaware of one’s own environment. He then draws on common experiences – traffic jams, grocery store lines, interactions with service workers – to demonstrate how the default setting manifests and causes distress. His descriptions are often humorous and self-deprecating, making his arguments more accessible and less preachy. He also directly addresses the audience, posing rhetorical questions and challenging their assumptions about freedom, worship, and education. The vulnerability he expresses about his own struggles adds a layer of authenticity, making his exhortations to conscious effort feel earned rather than imposed.
Organization and Flow
The speech follows a logical progression. It begins with an engaging narrative hook, introduces the central problem (the default setting), articulates the proposed solution (conscious choice and empathy), illustrates the solution with everyday examples, acknowledges the difficulty of the task, and concludes with a call to action that emphasizes the profound implications of this choice for one's overall experience of life. The transitions between these sections are generally smooth, often signaled by Wallace’s direct address to the audience or by shifts in his tone from narrative to exposition. The organization effectively guides the listener from recognizing the problem to understanding the necessity and possibility of a different way of living.
Tone and Audience Engagement
Wallace adopts a tone that is simultaneously serious, earnest, witty, and deeply empathetic. He is clearly passionate about his message, but he avoids the didacticism often found in commencement speeches. His use of humor and self-deprecation helps to disarm the audience and make his challenging ideas more palatable. He acknowledges the intelligence and education of his audience (the Kenyon graduates) but insists that these are insufficient on their own to overcome the fundamental human tendency towards self-absorption. His direct engagement with the audience, asking them to consider their own experiences and choices, is key to his effectiveness. He aims not to lecture, but to provoke thought and encourage self-reflection, making the message feel personal and relevant.
Revision Opportunities and Enduring Relevance
While 'This Is Water' is widely celebrated, potential areas for deeper exploration in a critical analysis might include a more in-depth examination of Wallace's philosophical underpinnings, perhaps drawing connections to existentialism or stoicism. One could also analyze the specific rhetorical devices he uses more granularly, or critically assess whether his proposed 'solution' is truly achievable or overly idealistic. However, the speech's enduring relevance lies precisely in its timeless message. In an era increasingly dominated by social media, polarized discourse, and constant digital distraction, the call to conscious awareness, empathy, and deliberate attention is perhaps more critical than ever. Wallace’s challenge to choose what to think about remains a vital, albeit difficult, imperative for navigating the complexities of modern existence.
Analyzing Wallace's Metaphor
Consider Wallace's opening metaphor of the two young fish. The power of this metaphor lies in its simplicity and universality. We, like the fish, are so immersed in our 'water' – our daily routines, our ingrained beliefs, our immediate sensory input – that we often fail to recognize its fundamental influence on our perception and behavior. The older fish, representing wisdom or awareness, poses a question that highlights this lack of recognition. The young fish's unthinking response ('What water?') underscores the core problem Wallace addresses: the unexamined life, lived on autopilot. This initial image serves as a potent, memorable entry point into the speech's deeper philosophical concerns about consciousness and the necessity of deliberate awareness. A student analyzing this speech might explore how this metaphor is developed throughout the text and how it connects to Wallace's broader arguments about default settings and the struggle for self-awareness.
Identify the central metaphor (the fish and the water).
Pinpoint Wallace's core argument about default settings.
Analyze the role of everyday examples (traffic, grocery store).
Evaluate the effectiveness of Wallace's tone (earnest, witty, vulnerable).
Consider the speech's relevance in contemporary society.
FAQs
What is the main message of David Foster Wallace's 'This Is Water'?
The main message of 'This Is Water' is that the most important and difficult aspect of living a meaningful life is the conscious, daily choice of what to think about. Wallace argues that our natural 'default setting' is self-centeredness, which leads to frustration and a lack of empathy. He urges the audience to actively choose awareness, empathy, and a different perspective, especially in mundane and annoying situations, as the path to true freedom and a richer existence.
How does Wallace use the fish parable in 'This Is Water'?
Wallace uses the parable of the two young fish encountering an older fish who asks, 'How’s the water?' as a central metaphor. The young fish, unaware of the water they are swimming in, represent people living on 'autopilot,' unthinkingly immersed in their own experiences and perspectives. The older fish symbolizes awareness and the ability to recognize the environment (or the 'water') that shapes our lives. This parable effectively introduces the speech's core theme: the difficulty of recognizing and escaping our own default settings and the importance of conscious awareness.
What does Wallace mean by 'worship' in the speech?
By 'worship,' Wallace refers to what we choose to focus our deepest attention and energy on, what we allow to shape our fundamental understanding of the world and ourselves. He suggests that in a society without a strong religious framework, people tend to worship things like money, pleasure, power, or intellectual superiority. He argues that these forms of worship often lead to dissatisfaction and self-centeredness. Instead, he proposes a form of 'worship' centered on empathy, awareness of others, and finding meaning in the shared human experience, which he believes offers a more fulfilling path.
Why is 'This Is Water' considered a challenging speech?
'This Is Water' is considered challenging because it doesn't offer easy answers or conventional platitudes. Instead, it confronts the audience with the inherent difficulties of adult life and the constant, demanding work required to live consciously and empathetically. Wallace acknowledges that resisting our default settings is incredibly hard and requires ongoing effort. The speech is intellectually rigorous and emotionally honest, pushing listeners to re-examine their own perspectives and behaviors rather than simply receiving encouragement.