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Ella Beth Southall

Professor Padgett
English 101
18 September 2015
External Concerns
Throughout his commencement address, This is Water, David Foster Wallace
fights a constant battle with humankinds default-setting (XIII). The default setting
evokes humankinds self absorption, instead of the world around them. People lose focus
on the water (XII) or reality around them because of their inner focus. Wallace
addresses the idea of reality as an individuals mindless, day-to-day activities. Wallace
encourages humankind to stray from their self emphasis and adapt to the issues of the
world. In his speech, Wallace urges all humans to adjust their default setting, in order to
create a more deliberate world. During his commencement speech, Wallace developes an
anti-materialist perspective, which leads him to question worldly default settings and
everyday worships, while hoping in unconventional sources of faith.
In his graduation speech, Wallace creates the idea that humans believe that the
world works against them, when in actuality the world exists solely for the purpose of
existing. Humans believe that everybody is just in my way, (XIV) when in actuality
they are coexisting, instead of disturbing one another. David Foster Wallace implores his
audience to drop the internal devotion to create a more conscious existence. Life connects
the whole human race to create mixed lives and stories. When all of these other, tired,
hurried people (XIV) coexist, conflict occurs in common places. In everyday

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occurrences, humans are slowed by one another, which can either be a fiasco or an
adventure, depending on how individuals envision life. Wallace discusses this idea of
having a choice, and hopes that people will actively respond. Wallace states, you get to
decide how youre going to try to see it (XVI). Individuals are given the choice on how
they see the world. In This is Water, Wallace requests that his audience decides to
adjust their default setting to make the human race live a more deliberate existence.
Throughout This is Water, Wallace creates the visual of unconscious default
settings,
and implores his audience to create deliberate efforts in interactions. He shows that
culture will allow for the unmindful effort but Wallace hopes for the freedom to be lords
of our own tiny skull-sized kingdoms (XVII). Individuals need to decide their own
deliberate stream of consciousness instead of following cultures heedless direction. The
attempt to stay aware is a daily effort that needs to be practiced in order to avoid the
default setting. Wallace directs his
audience to keep the truth up-front in daily consciousness, (XVI) in order to create a
more aware society. The effort to keep conscious creates the freedom of thinking and an
aware community. As Wallace concludes, he clarifies that the capital-T Truth is about
life before death. It is about making it to 30, or maybe 50 without wanting to shoot
yourself in the head. It is about awareness (XVII). Wallace urges his audience to live
mindfully to avoid the monotony of society and daily life, so that they can see the true
world. Wallace hopes that humans intentionally adjust their default setting in order to
avoid an unconscious world.

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In order to consciously adjust the default setting, individuals must actively choose
what they worship. Wallace urges his audience to choose a faith greater than mortal
ideals, because anything else will eat you alive (XVI). Wallace believes that any human
based faith will result in a sense of failure, while divinity gives individuals hope. In his
example he states, if you worship money and things -- if they are where you tap real
meaning in life -- then you will never have enough (XVI). Wallace infers that any mortal
worship will never satisfy an individual, but suggests that individuals should look to
lasting faiths. He suggests that any earthly desire will never result in satisfaction, but in
more greed and self emphasis. This sense of failure will only cause self destruction, so
that you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you (XVI). Wallace suggests
dropping these mortal confinements to see the true existence. His anti-materialist
perspective leads him to look elsewhere for inspiration for life. Wallace enlightens his
audience to their choices and worships in life, so that they will live willingly and
consciously in their realities.
In his commencement address, This is Water, David Foster Wallace creates the
image of the unmindful default setting to produce a more conscious effort. Through his
explanation of alert thinking, Wallace uses mortal worries, worships, and intentions to
convey the importance of active life. Often, individuals focus on themselves and forget to
look at the life they exist in. Wallace calls on his audience to be wary of the mortal
worships, because they will ultimately end in disappointment. Humankind needs to live
intentionally, so that they go through life consciously. This is Water is a
commencement speech that gives hope to the younger adults, as they start living

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mindfully. He reminds his audience to constantly think, this is water, this is water
(XVII), so they continually better life.