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David Foster Wallace Analysis

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passion. C. Wallace provides a depiction of how people view everyday situations from a pessimistic perspective: D. “But most days, if you're aware enough to give yourself a choice, you can choose to look differently at this fat, dead-eyed, over-made-up lady who just screamed at her kid in the checkout line. Maybe she's not usually like this” (Wallace 20). E. Wallace’s description of the lady sounds plausible to the audience because one may have constructed similar thoughts about total strangers. By beginning his argument with the description of the lady, Wallace allows the audience to be emotionally connected to the situation, therefore, his argument becomes more applicable. F. David Foster Wallace continues to appeal to pathos: G. “It is not the least bit coincidental that adults who commit suicide with firearms almost always shoot themselves in: the head. They shoot the terrible master” (Wallace 18). H. Wallace implies that the brain can have terrible thoughts, but it is how someone chooses to deal with the thoughts. By providing this statement, Wallace furthers his argument that it is best to be self-aware of one’s thoughts. If one cannot exercise having control over one’s own thoughts, then adult life will be difficult. I. Wallace provides another description of a scenario of how people view everyday situations from a …show more content…

The commencement speech provides a favorable moment for Wallace to discuss selflessness and choosing how to think because the graduates are about to face a negative reality; however, perspectives on the world can be changed in how they think. Throughout the speech, Wallace uses rhetorical devices to persuade the graduates to be selfless and open-minded as they enter adulthood. Wallace’s use of rhetorical devices: ethos, logos, and pathos, allows the audience

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In David Foster Wallace’s article “Consider the Lobster,” he describes the harsh reality of lobster eating. At the site of the World’s Largest Lobster Cooker at the Maine Lobster Festival, Wallace describes in detail the brutal treatment of lobsters in order for people to seek pleasure in their appetite. Wallace’s argument is that it is not right to “boil a sentient creature alive just for our gustatory pleasure” (700-701). He thoroughly describes the process in which lobsters are boiled alive in order to support his argument that because lobsters have feelings too, we should not boil sentient creatures alive for our pleasure. Wallace’s argument complicates Nijhuis’ view on nature because Nijhuis makes the point that people should essentially

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Wallace's examples make the audience think about how the situations can sometimes be challenging. During the speech he states down to earth comments making the audience connect more to

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618 Words | 3 Pages

In David Wallace’s “Consider the Lobster”, the Maine Lobster Festival (MLF) is profiled. The festival takes place every year in the Western Penobscot Bay area from July 31 to August 3. The area is described as “the nerve stem of Maine’s lobster industry”. For almost the entirety of the piece Wallace takes a topical approach and assumes the reader has very little knowledge of the lobster. He goes into detail about all the different things that go on at the MLF using lengthy run on sentences.

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Before I read David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech “This is Water” and Sanford J. Ungar’s article “The New Liberal Arts”, I thought the liberal arts degree was a futile degree and meant nothing to society. After reading the passages it altered my perspective. Wallace and Ungar attempt use the rhetorical devices to meticulously explain the importance of getting a degree in the liberal arts by using pathos and the nods the opposition to support their ideals. However, Wallace’s use of pathos is descriptive and engaging and his nods to the opposition are thorough, while Ungar’s is indirect and his nods are shorthanded. Wallace is specific in the way he uses pathos in his commencement speech.

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558 Words | 3 Pages

The Rhetorical Elements of Barack Obama’s Speech President Obama uses rhetorical appeals throughout his speech. These rhetorical appeals help prove that each an every student should try their best in school. President Obama stated in his 2009 “Address to America’s Schoolchildren” that each student must take responsibility for his or her own education. President Obama uses many examples of ethos, logos, and pathos in his speech. In Obama’s 2009 “Address to America’s Schoolchildren” he has examples of ethos.

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869 Words | 4 Pages

One of the most common assumptions regarding the millennials is that they are entitled and narcissistic. Though this statement might not be completely true, we have to admit that having a large ego could be a problem for young adults. David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water” commencement speech during the Kenyon College graduation was perfect to address this issue. In his (Wallace, 2005) speech, he argues that if we are able to change our perspectives and attitudes, only then can we appreciate all the other people around us. His suggestion is that all of us have a “default state” where we unconsciously judge other people (Wallace, 2005).

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Saunders accomplishes this warmth in his speech by making the graduates feel as if they were casually conversing with “some old fart.” The informal tone that Saunders utilizes while speaking to his audience establishes a comfortably relatable position of ethos. This rhetorical move takes away from his prestige so as to not belittle the graduates’ achievements. His use of humor in the introduction, for example, when he says, “Now, one useful thing you can do with and old person, in addition to borrowing money from them…” is also aimed at gauging the audience’s attention (Saunders 1). Saunders is well aware that younger people respond to humor.

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771 Words | 4 Pages

The use of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos are some of the ways a speaker uses to appeal to the audience and make them identify with the logic being argued. The speaker identified what the audience wants to hear or needs and establishes these requirements to fit within the context of philosophy, ethics, and emotions. The speech made at the State of the Union 1964 goes to show how a speaker can use words, expressions, and even nonverbal communication. The essay sought to establish the main ideas presented in the speech that relates to the three most important rhetorical concepts. Rhetorical questions are supposed to give us time to reflect and think and through ought the speech Lyndon can affirm that and keep the audience attentive.

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573 Words | 3 Pages

The 2010 speech “Back to School” by president Barack Obama used certain rhetorical techniques, while keeping a more casual tone. The use of logos gave insight to the effect of education already in America. Ethos used many personal examples of his family. While pathos gave the audience a connection to him and his own experiences as a student. Although, the motivational aspect of this speech would only apply to a certain type of student, it was effective in the area it was intended.

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The author, Brent Staples, appeals to emotions as a way to prove to the audience his point of how our society views certain races, genders, etc. Staples uses

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David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water” and Jonathan Franzen’s “Oh the Places You’ll Go” are commencement speeches at Kenyon College, delivered by amazing authors. Although Wallace and Franzen's speeches convey different perspectives and ideas, both speeches advise students with a significant message about life. To begin with, the differences between Wallace’s and Franzen’s speeches; one focuses on the purpose of education and the other on our infatuation with technology. In his speech, Wallace indicates the purpose of liberal arts education.

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860 Words | 4 Pages

The way one perceives life can differ from the ways of other people. Although perception can be interpreted in many different ways, David Wallace and Jim Carrey bring a different but interesting approach to the subject of perception. David Wallace explained his approach of perception during his commencement speech at Kenyon College in 2005. Jim Carrey also explained his approach to perception during a commencement speech that he gave at Mum University in 2014. Wallace’s main point is that by changing the view of mundane situations people would find themselves enjoying life instead of being depressed.

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908 Words | 4 Pages

According to Wallace, after a long and tedious day, we become stressed and let our emotions get the best of us. We are wired to think we are the center of the universe. Because of this way of thinking, we blame others for our frustration and stress. In other words, our brain unconsciously switches to our “natural default setting” (Wallace, 199). In order to be able to overcome this way of thinking, it is important to be able to have the “choice of what to think about” (Wallace 199).

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621 Words | 3 Pages

When I heard these words announced by the principal of Bryant at the time, Ms. Peterson, I was in awe. I wanted to be just like my brother. When I was in the 8th grade, I wanted to do the 8th grade farewell speech. This goal of mine was never forgotten, and when the end of my 8th grade year came around I submitted the best speech I had ever written before in great hopes that it would get selected. I handed it in with much anxiety and fear that my goal would not be accomplished.

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664 Words | 3 Pages

Contemplate for a moment, what it might be like to obtain freedom and choices in thoughts, feelings and behaviour... Whilst we may not be able to alter the environment or situation, which stimulates negative thoughts and emotions, we are capable of learning how to alter our responses to it, developing and strengthening our coping ability and psychological resilience in lasting ways. Gaining freedom from negative, unhelpful thoughts has life changing consequences, enhancing enjoyment of life,

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