In
his awe-inspiring commencement speech, "This is Water," David Foster
Wallace introduces the notion of the 'default-setting,' which is essentially
the unconscious state of mind that we humans are wired to exist in. In
addressing this idea as a recurring motif in his speech, Wallace points out how
the aim of the Liberal Arts education system was to teach its students how to
broaden their horizons and adopt a different approach to learning, which
primarily encapsulates learning how to exercise control over what to think
about, and being conscious of what is worthy of one's attention in life.
Moreover, Wallace's approach to education is buttressed by a novel technique of
thinking. In this technique of thinking, Wallace urges his audience to
re-evaluate even the most insignificant details of life and apply to them a
different lens; a lens that validates the frustrating, petty, occurrences in
life as viable and legitimate.
Wallace
stresses the importance of being able to draw a fair distinction between what
one should devote their attention to, while what is not worthy of one's
attention. Nonetheless, what Wallace also emphasizes is the vital force of
learning how to cease trivializing the vagaries of life, and instead to
critique these vagaries with optimism. One of the most prominent anecdotes that
elevate Wallace's education theory lies in him relaying the instance at a
crowded grocery story whereby the many facets of life are embodied in the
typified characters like the cashier with the "voice of death," the prancing
children exhibiting characteristics of ADHD, and lastly, the "fat,
dead-eyed, over-made- lady who just screamed at her little child in the
checkout line." Through eliciting vivid images of these typified
characters in the grocery store, Wallace is even more successful in asserting
his central point that pertains to adopting a fresh perspective on life.
Applying
Wallace's educational theory to Munro's short stories urges the reader to
consider the many vagaries of life from an altered point of view. In
her literary fiction, Munro often weaves in seemingly insignificant
details into her tales, details that to a reader may hold no value.
But perhaps even the most seemingly insignificant details are the
details that embellish and elevate the central essence of life, which is a
notion that Wallace and Munro, both propagate in their works. Moreover, Munro
and Wallace both address the social realities that override our lives,
realities that we normally would dismiss as trivial. Wallace, in the context
of a commencement speech, uses the opportunity to school seniors on the
"day in and day out" of life, while Munro herself uses her literary
flair to divulge the intricacies and complexities of different spheres
of life through the spectrum of characters and plots she explores
with impressive subtlety.
