Essays on David Foster

Abstract concepts bothered humanity since the emergence of such thing as free time in human life. Since then, the snowball started rolling, and now we have a whole lot of fields of thought that deal solely with abstract entities. Moreover, most of them we call “science.” While abstract entities are more or less understandable, it is really hard to say whether this transition from the real world to the world of abstraction was useful. And by mentioning transition to the abstract, I do not mean only mathematics or physics or any other sole field of science, but the transition ...

Critical thinking is often the main goal of education rather than the simple accrual of knowledge. This is thematically discussed in Toni Cade Bambara’s The Lesson and David Foster Wallace’s Commencement Speech, Kenyon College. Bambara’s story shows an adult leading a group of children in an out-of-town educational trip. Wallace’s speech, on the other hand details the transition of graduates into adult life and of how their college education plays a role in it. Whereas Bambara’s story deals more on the racial themes and differences of inequality, Wallace’s speech focuses on the larger ...

Even in nonfiction prose, authors find many different ways to tell us about themselves. They may directly describe their personality traits or they may indirectly show these traits through their word choice, their attitudes towards the subject matter and their reported (or admitted) behavior. As such, the personality of the author becomes evident in their works and social interactions. What is commonly referred to as “personality” in a real person is called “persona” in writing. This essay describes the persona of David Foster Wallace’s authorial persona as evidenced in his essays and his social life and interactions with ...

Introduction

David Foster Wallace was an American writer whose work includes novels, essays, and short stories. He is a professor of creative writing. His most famous work was his novel Infinite Jest, and The Pale Cream. He has been recognized by various institutions and persons for his elaborate work in the development of English literature. Wallace work include both fiction and non-fiction work. His work is mostly concerned in moving beyond the metafiction and the irony that is associated with postmodernism. Some of his other nonfiction works include the John McCain 2000 presidential bid and the September 11 attacks. We ...

Morality is essential to the stability of a nation or an organization. In fact, lack thereof leads to the development of uncertainty among individuals and this situation compromises peace. With this in mind, it is worth acknowledging the fact that David Foster raises his ethical concerns about the consumption of lobsters. Precisely, he does not present his argument in a way that castigates this action. Rather, he poses a question that challenges one’s emotional and logical appeal. He mentions, “Is it all right to boil a sentient creature alive just for our gustatory pleasure?” This statement forms the ...