Analysis - George Saunders' Commencement Address

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 our book groups we discussed two essays “The Connection Between Strangers” by Miles Goodwin and the essay “The People Who Love You When No One Else Would” by Cecile Gilmer. In my group we said that “no matter how big or small your act of kindness is, it could change someones life” was demonstrated in both essays. In the first essay, “The Connection Between Strangers”, shows this because this little girl walked up to this solider and congratulated him. Little did she know, that the small action had changed the soldier’s life, as he said in the essay, “That girl undoubtedly has no memory of what happened years ago… It doesn't matter why she gave me the magazine. The important thing is she did” (Goodwin 83).

One example of kindness is when the doctor helped Elie with his infected swollen foot. Elie got sent to the hospital by of the gestapo's because he saw his foot that was swollen so he sent Elie to get cured. “The operation lasted an hour. They had not put me to sleep.

One of the finest commencement speeches was given by David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College. Wallace’s speech can be viewed as enlightening to those who are often blindly single-minded. It forces the audience to take a look at the way they approach everyday situations, rather than being self-centered, consider others before yourself. However, many overlook Wallace’s impeccable rhetorical maneuvers, focusing on the constant clichés and fictional anecdotes used. What people don’t realize is these clichés and fictional anecdotes are what make Wallace’s speech effective and reinforce the basic principles we were taught as a child, to share and think of others before ourselves. Overlooking Wallace’s flawless technique is doing a disservice to

Selfishness is being concerned for oneself or one’s advantage and welfare regardless of others. Selfness is demonstrated when a person leaves and does not tell anyone where they are going. In Into the Wild Jon Krakauer tells the story of Chris McCandless’s selfish quest for “ultimate Freedom”. Chris is selfish because he takes his privileged life for granted. Then, Chris decides to leave and he totally ignores and blocks out his family. Finally Chris builds relationships with people, then leaves when they are no longer needed. Chris taking his life for granted, his ignorance and the fact that he is an absentee is why Chris McCandless’s quest for “ultimate freedom” is selfish.

And this speech was a clear example of that. He offers a story about a young man who set off around the world attempting to find the meaning of life when one faithful day he stumbled upon a mansion where he was created and offered dinner by butlers and maids. The owner appeared to be a king who was gravely ill, shortly after a man wielding a weapon in one hand entered the room, the young man left the mansion and it disappeared, the young man could not understand, yet after continuing his travels he happened to find the mansion once again only this time he asked the ill owner of the mansion “tell me your story, what is the source of your pain” and in that very moment he had discovered the true meaning of life. To give yourself to others. His final words in this speech were something I am not ashamed to say almost brought me to tears. The passion and the way in which I was able to relate were astonishing. Michael Himes said and I quote “The thing that I wish for you is that sometime in your life you get a chance to say to people who mean an enormous amount to you what it is that has been truest in your own life because in a moment like that that you know that everything you gave away has been given back in

The famous greek writer Aesop once said “No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.”In today's society kindness is look upon as rare act and is sometimes questioned sincerity. No one really realizes how simply holding a door, sharing, or even giving a compliment can help better someone else's day or even life. In “Enrique's Journey” acts of kindness are scarce for immigrants trying to cross the border. The closer and closer immigrants get to the border, kindness decreases as violence rapidly increases. Those who are lucky enough to experience these kind acts, big or small, are extremely grateful. The idea of knowing things could go worse instantly, allows people to appreciate and also give an act of kindness in another form to someone

This book ultimately was trying to convey how being selfish is apart of who we all are and taking away that aspect leaves us thoughtless and identical to one another. His conscience only knew right and wrong from everything he had learned in society, but he completely ignored that in favor of furthering his “selfish”

    Integrity it is not just performing an act of kindness, but the morals you stand behind when you do do the act. The level of honesty, the willingness to do what is right and moral commitments all these add up to equal the level of integrity you hold yourself to. I do not think I have performed, the level of integrity that this quote is talking about, but I have

Former President, Barack Obama, in his speech “Obama’s Commencement Address at Arizona State University”, the purpose is to convey the ideas that there is always more to do, always more to learn, and always more to achieve. His rhetoric is so successful because of his effective use of pathos, kairos, and structure matters.

I think that this quote is important because it helps develop the metaphor of society being like the hive and a bee being a human. What it means is that humans normally are more complicated then they seem.

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

A second example is if a student in college wants to be a doctor in the future, he is only going to medical school to become rich, not to help people, which is selfish. Ultimately, a person’s actions are intentionally selfish.

Or, consider the envious individual who tries to get you to feel guilty for your hard-earned success. "You are lucky to have done so well," the envious person says. "Now you have a duty to share some of your success with others." Ce rtainly, a selfish person wants to share his success with those he genuinely cares about—his family, friends, or children (greater values). But why should he make sacrifices to individuals he does not know or care about (lesser values)?

Being kind is another advantageous tip on how to live a happy and healthy life. Committing ourselves to be sympathetic to others along with to ourselves brings a new pinnacle of joy and gusto to us.