David Foster Wallace Essay Examples and Research Papers

David Foster Wallace’s purpose was to bring attention to our “default settings” or thought that we are the center of the universe. He also points out that we have the choice of what to think, and encourages us to switch gears and view others to be just as important as we are. Wallace clips his…

“Good People”, by David Foster Wallace is a story about a young, unwed, Christian couple that is facing a difficult decision. Their decision may result in both moral and religious implications that further complicate their situation. The presentation of dichotomy in this short story by Wallace is represented to the audience through the inner thoughts…

After reading and analyzing the commencement speech that David Foster Wallace gave left me flabbergasted. I found Wallace’s speech as incredibly intriguing and insightful, presenting a different perspective on us humans’ way of thinking in every day to day life. His speech gave me a better understanding on my intellectual thoughts and the way I…

David Foster Wallace begins his speech with a metaphor, as all self-proclaimed intellects do. He describes humans as being self-centered and unintentionally ignoring the rest of the world. “It is about simple awareness,” Wallace explains on the last page. We, as humans, are inherently selfish “fish” that ignore the “water” surrounding us. We’ve become so…

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…