In David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech in 2005 to the graduating class of Kenyon college he explored on the importance of a liberal arts education. Wallace conveyed a message of how the liberal arts education pertains to how we think. He emphasizes on the benefits of adjusting one’s thoughts and not thinking with the default settings. Wallace proves the value of a liberal arts education through making a relatable connection to the audience and creating an emotional appeal within his speech, because he believes someone who does not adjust their thoughts will be enslaved to their default settings.
Near the beginning of Wallaces commencement speech he warns his audience that he is “not the wise old fish” after telling a parable about a few fish. Wallace provides this comment to identify himself as someone familiar to the audience and not above them. Wallace mentions that he must speak on the stereotypical theme of commencement speeches which is the value of the liberal arts education. He states this to receive the audiences trust because he presents what a liberal arts education does, which is teaching you how to think. He then goes on by talking about how as a student he didn’t like to hear that either and found it quite insulting then.
Wallace often uses the pronoun we during his speech. By using the word we, the audience sees Wallace as someone who has walked in their shoes and shares experiences with them. He even uses himself as an example when explaining on being less arrogant when thinking. Wallace states “a huge percentage of the stuff that I tend to be automatically certain of is, it turns out, totally wrong and deluded”. These relatable experiences help Wallace form a more believable argument. People do not want to hear about examples that are unlikely for them to ever experience. They want experiences that they have possibly been through so that can better understand.
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Wallace attempts to better persuade his audience that they should adjust their thought and get rid of their default settings by using emotional appeal. One of the first anecdotes Wallace uses involves two guys arguing about religion. This story of two men arguing about whether God is real is a ploy to grab people’s attention and focus on the concept of different perspectives. People typically have strong feeling about religion, so this story allows the audience to think of importance of perspectives. Each person’s perspective forms their belief on religion or on God.
Wallace brings a point about people who commit suicide with firearms often shot themselves in the head. Not only does this provide that people “shoot the terrible master”, but it also grabs people’s attention. Suicide is a very emotional thing and can cause a family much depression and sadness. Wallaces ties in suicide because he knows that people will stop and think when someone mentions suicide.
Wallace’s commencement speech is very famous and highly regarded because of the great points he makes and how he presents them. His advocacy for adjusting one’s thoughts and better realizing the surrounding in life and shown through his speech.
