Rhetorical Analysis Of George Saunders Speech

George Saunders, a renowned American writer is a graduate of Syracuse University. So it is no surprise when the University asked him to give the convocation speech to the graduating class of 2013. George delivered an eye-opening and touching speech. The speech is speaking to the graduates, but also to everyone in attendance. It is not your average speech on how to be successful in the real world, but instead, it is how to live a happier life. Saunders reminds us that kindness to others goes a long way. He sheds light on life’s biggest regret, no swimming in a river full of monkey feces, but a missed opportunity. The speech is definitely worth an ear. George Saunders begins is speech is a simple advice, ask an older person what they regret

When you think of selfishness, you think about the kid who grew up as an only child. Someone who is selfish is stingy, narrow-minded and self-centered. Saunders calls selfishness a sickness. Sadly, there is no doctor that can prescribe us anything. Only we ourselves can heal us. He mentions the three different type’s selfishness that we all act on. The first type is that our story is the main and only story in the universe. Subconsciously, we might believe that when we closed our eyes the world stops moving until we wake up. This innate thought has crossed each of our minds, even in the faintest way. Just wondering what another person is doing is hard to comprehend. Second, we’re separate from the universe. Everything acts in its own accord and as its own entity. For example, “dogs, swing sets, low hanging clouds, etc.…” Then third he mentioned, “We’re permanent”. Basically, death is a very real thing. Thankfully Saunders redeems himself by giving each of us hope. As we get older, we become less selfish and more loving. He predicts that the older we become, the more replaced by love we will be. At least then there is more to look forward to when you become old than half priced lunch at Quiznos. Rest assured, if you feel like your picture is in the dictionary for the definition of selfish, Saunders says there is a cure. “Be a good and proactive and even somewhat desperate patient on your own

It is the cure, the inevitable end, and savior in the speech. After his biggest regret, as well as the plague of the world, selfishness, the key to life is a kindness. Kindness can cure the selfishness that afflicts us all. Kindness is what is remembered. It is also the inevitable end. According to Saunders, when you get old, you also get tired of being selfish, and hateful. You are then consumed by kindness and love. Although it sounds easy, Saunders says it is hard. It 's easy to be kind to people you like, to innocent objects. But it is a difficult challenge to be kind, to others that you might not like or vice versa. Expanding kindness to all things is the trickiest part. But it can be done. Saunders mentions the most respectable names in history as an example of kindness like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Shakespeare. Kindness is what saves each of us. Each of us can recall the random act of kindness that was done to each of us. Well, we can each return the