Similarities and Differences

Both speeches show the audience how having an open mind and viewing things from different perspectives can change the way you think and help create a better understanding of certain situations. Wallace wants the audience to try to envision what other people are going through. In his speech, he shows that considering other people's problems and feelings instead of thinking about yourself all of the time can make you more conscious and aware of the people around you. "The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and sacrifice for them, over and over..."(Wallace, This is Water, para.14) Morrison's speech shows us that there is more than one answer to a problem; broadening your thoughts and perspectives can help you create more solutions. Creating more solutions can increase your understanding. Although both speakers share the same idea, they use very different examples to express this idea. Wallace uses real life situations and experiences that people actually go through such as having to shop late at night in a crowded grocery store or being stuck in traffic; while Morrison tells a story about two boys attempting to trick an old lady with a live/dead bird. Wallace's speech is a little more straight forward and to the point. You can easily spot the thesis statement and understand the message he is trying to convey throughout the speech. It also seems like it was written for a more modern audience. I say this because Wallace tries to make his speech less cliche and preachy as possible. For example, he states, "But please don't worry that I'm getting ready to preach to you about compassion and other directedness or so called virtues."(Wallace, This is Water, para.3) Many older speeches did not focus on this. He also reiterates his thesis two or three times so that the audience will understand. Audiences do not like thinking too much these days. They would much rather have the answer given to them. Morrison's speech requires more analyzing in order to figure out its purpose, especially since his word choice is more complex.