What is the message in this is water?
The message is that paying attention and being mindful of others is essential. Wallace’s speech also talked about decision making and the power of choice. Wallace’s speech talked about changing a person’s perspective and attitude on others around them.
Why do you think Wallace used the water metaphor at the beginning of the speech and at the end?
The author of “This is Water”, David Foster Wallace, uses the anecdote of the wise old fish and the younger fish to show us the importance of being aware of our surroundings. At the end of the speech when Wallace states “This is water” again it is trying to remind us that life is what you let it to be.
What does default setting mean in this is water?
In David Foster Wallace’s speech, “This is Water,” he informed the audience of the importance for everyone to know they have a “natural default-setting,” which is the automatic way that a person feels they are the center of the universe and that negative situations are other people’s fault.
When did David Foster Wallace give this is water?
In 2005, David Foster Wallace delivered the “This is Water” commencement speech at Kenyon College. I’ve studied and written about the most viewed commencement speeches in the past, but this one is special. In just over 20 minutes, he covers the “unsexy” yet very real realities of day-to-day adult life.
What did David Foster Wallace say in his commencement speech?
There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What the hell is water?”
What is the summary of this is water?
This is my book summary of This is Water by David Foster Wallace. My notes are informal and often contain quotes from the book as well as my own thoughts. This summary includes key lessons and important passages from the book. The meaning we construct out of life is a matter of personal, intentional choice.
Who are the characters in this is water?
Main keywords of the essay: David Foster Wallace, commencement speech, analysis, two young fish, old fish, This is Water Essay characters: David Foster Wallace, old fish, two young fish