Nichele Rascoe Rascoe 1
English 120
October 10, 2016
Often times, many forget to be kind to one another. When we are performing out our daily activities we forget to think about other people. Individuals can be naturally selfish or self- centered. There are multiple obstacles working against our being kind to one another. Our own success being one of them. We must remember to put ourselves in the shoes of the other person, in order to understand the issues in front of us. It is not easy to become detached ourselves from how we usually are nor how we are born, but it is imperative that we try to ensure a brighter future. Why should we be more kind, or in fact less self-centered? George Saunders and David Foster Wallace mention the importance of being kind to one another and the steps necessary in graduation speeches. Both writers state that acting in kindness, ultimately leads to new freedoms and creates an enlightened human being. In the Commencement Speech, “This is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life,” Wallace claims that people are naturally self- centered. (235) We only tend to see the world as it relates or pertains to us. Wallace’s speech is meant to change the graduate’s perspective on the world. Wallace believes that the graduates should heed his advice because it will eventually provide an important
In George Saunders essay “thank you, Esther Forbes”, he describes how an author who he read during his youthful age helped him to understand why and how sentences can be important. The essay is written on a more personal note about a nun named Sister Lynette who helped Saunders to develop his perception of sentences. In third grade at St. Darmian School, Saunders was given the novel “Johnny Tremain” by Esther Forbes and that was a turning point for him. This was because the book provided him with a different understanding of the joys of reading as well as writing. On the other, “escape from spider head” helps in providing an analysis of the strengths of a man being put to test. The limits presented in the story are classified as physical, emotional as well as moral. The theme of the story is searching for humanity which makes the readers ask themselves, what makes us human? According to “escape from spider head” humans are considered to be innately empathetic in nature and they are considered to be people who are against the infliction of pain as well as discomfort which is caused on another innocent human being. The aim of the essay is to elaborate more on the connection existing between “Thank you, Esther Forbes” and “Escape from Spiderhead” in terms of the details presented in the two stories.
In David Foster Wallace’s Commencement Speech, he opens with a short parable about how a fish greets two other fishes and ask them how’s the water today, this parable introduces us to his message which is changing that default setting which is hard-wired into our brains to have a life worth living. I agree with his statement because this is’nt just the first time this formula has been brought to our attention. Many success people have said this statement in some form or fashion, we can even look at David Sedaris’s commencement speech.
In David Wallace’s commencement speech, Wallace gives the graduating class of Kenyon College a new and insightful perspective on everyday life. Wallace believes that every human has a default mindset that is all about “me”. His dream is to one day switch gears from the default mindset to a more mindful and courteous mindset.
In “David Foster Wallace, In His Own Words,” David Foster Wallace talks about the liberal arts cliché and its full analysis. In the article, Wallace is clear about all of his reasons for people misinterpreting liberal arts, and I agree with the fact that everyone is surrounded by their own self-centeredness and it can be fixed by becoming well-adjusted. However, the liberal arts program cannot simply provide an individual with information on seeing past his/her own thoughts.
In the 2005 commencement address at Kenyon College, David Foster Wallace delivered an unusual message to the graduates. He uses a unique approach to the typical conventions of a commencement speech in order to catch the attention of the graduates and to reinforce the honesty of his message. By defying their expectations, he urges them to consider their own obliviousness and to look past their own natural biases in order to see what’s truly right in front of them.
Daniel Keyes in "Flowers for Algernon" utilizes the actions and thoughts of the main protagonist, Charlie Gordon, to convey the central idea, people only show kindness to someone else when the opportunity seems beneficial to themselves.
In the article, “6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You A Better Person” by David Wong, He speaks about the six ways that can adapt him or her into a superior individual. In addition, these six ways occur in six harsh truths that depending on the person may be difficult to digest. The author of this piece says that few may not need to hear these truths, while the majority of people need to. First, “The World Only Cares about What It can get from you”. In this step, if a situation occurs and he or she needs something, and another person has it and gives it to him or her, at the moment he or she is helping somebody in need. For example, if a person happens to get shot in the street and somebody is calling for somebody to extract the bullet out, at the moment that person
The ability to think can truly alter one’s life and their experience, without even realizing. As individuals, the decisions we make in life determine our outcomes and fate. Essentially, we can bring change not just for ourselves, but to those around us. In the novel Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel and the commencement speech “This is Water” by David Foster Wallace, the resolution one makes can be illustrated through three concepts which affects the individual as well as the community around them. These concepts are choice, love and freedom/liberation. Through these traits, the authors put forth the notion that individuals have the power to refine their life as well as others for the better or for the worse.
Have you ever heard the golden rule. Well if you haven't it is to treat others the way you want to be treated. If everyone is treated fairly everyone's life will be granted with happiness and success. Both authors in the short story “All summer in A Day” by Ray Bradbury, and the picture “The Lonely Little Duck” express the same theme-- treat others the way you want to be treated Treating others the way you want to be treated really means that if you are kind to people you should expect kind things back, but if you are hurtful to people you might get hurt back.
The fictitious Infinite Jest is considered to be one of the greatest novels ever created. It stemmed from the mind of the brilliant, yet complicated David Foster Wallace – who, for better or worse, would change the dynamic in which we (whether you know it or not) digest and interpret entertainment.
There is a point in human life when we reach a strong level of selfishness, which influence our decision making. Even if we are raised to be helpful, respectful, and compassionate to others, that view can change once we get older. Human beings encounter many social organizations, which leave a mark on our views, manners, and approaches.
Author David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech to the class of 2005 at Kenyon College centered on an atypical commencement topic; the correlation of a person’s thought process and their overall happiness. Wallace contends that the natural way in which people think, the “default-setting,” is easy and unconscious yet detrimental. An alternative way of thinking, a “well-adjusted” approach that Wallace advocates, is hard work and takes practice yet is much more constructive. Throughout the speech, Wallace juxtaposes these two ways of thinking by associating the default-setting with the idea of death, while the “well-adjusted” approach is associated with life. This highlights the monumental importance of the often overlooked notion of making a conscious decision about what and how to think.
Blaise Pascal once said,”Kind words do not cost much.Yet they accomplish much”.While words can be good you need to display kindness in your actions.What this mean is that people need to do more kind gestures.Therefore people need to be more nice in general. For example Standing up for people,Being nice to people and helping people.
Even just the smallest act of kindness can have a great impact on someone’s life. Kindness is showing concern for someone without expecting something in return. Jesse Jackson once said, “Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up.” He was a civil rights activist who expressed kindness to a great number of people. In Chicago, his kindness affected many people, but mostly women and African Americans in 1964. He showed kindness by leading many rallies and peaceful protests to accomplish his goal of making sure the rights of Americans were protected. If teens commit at least one act of kindness in their school or community every day, the world would be a better place.
Treating others with kindness benefits everyone involved. For example, in the story “Angel in Disguise”, the author states "We'll keep her a day or two longer; she is so weak and helpless," said Mrs. Joe Thompson…” She was starting to open up to Maggie and realize that she loves her as if she were her own child. This helps lift Mrs. Thompson’s sprits and shows her that she can feel feelings. This shows how being kind to Maggie made her a more loving person in the end. Additionally, in the article, “Teaching Kindness,” the author states that “As minds and bodies grow, it’s abundantly clear that children require a healthy dose of the warm-and-fuzzies to thrive as healthy, happy, well-rounded individuals.” This is proof that children need kindness