“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” This mantra from Margaret Mead is a somewhat humorous yet slightly satirical spin on how people tend to think of themselves as one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable human specimens. However, one English teacher from Wellesley High School takes this critique one step further with his polemic presentation at the school commencement. David McCullough, a Massachusetts English teacher, gave a seemingly somber sendoff to his graduates in 2012, with a speech that contained some unapologetically harsh sentiments. However, by looking past the outwardly dismal surface of the speech, the students can infer a more optimistic message. By incorporating devices of asyndeton, paradox, antimetabole,
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It is also harnessed by McCullough to present viewpoints that seem nonsensible initially, but are then explained using reason to the audience. For instance, the speaker puzzlingly proclaims, “If everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless” (McCullough 11). At first glance, these words defy logic. It makes one wonder how McCullough can claim that if all people are special, the opposite is true. In the same vein, McCullough’s affirmation that trophies, which are commonly held to icons of pride and victory, are worthless when they are received by everyone seeking one comes off as confusingly negative. However, when one reads into it more closely, coherence becomes evident. To be special, by definition, requires that no others be the same, which would be impossible if everyone were special. By extension, trophies, which are designed to separate one from their peers, would fail to do so if everyone received one. In making these points, McCullough highlights that being distinct (an already impossible feat, according to the orator) really doesn’t hold any perks and that it’s perfectly acceptable not stand out. To emphasize this claim, McCullough declares that “The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you’re not special” (15). The audience is likely scratching its collective head …show more content…
Anadiplosis accomplishes this by presenting a new perspective to his pupils and to reinforce the overarching message of the occasion: human individuality is a myth. McCullough elaborated that, “Your planet, I’ll remind you, is not the center of its solar system, you solar system is not the center of its galaxy, your galaxy is not the center of the universe” (10). He then takes it one step further by explaining from a logical standpoint how no human could be at the center. Also, the “zooming out”, that is built upon in the speech is intentional; the author is illustrating how minuscule we are in the grand scheme of things by gradually increasing the size of the view. This also fits in with many of his previous tactics, practiced in order to give the audience a new outlook so that they devote attention less to themselves. Together, these two effects allow the author to capitalize on his argument that no one is special enough to visibly affect the world and that it would be more beneficial for the students to look at the world apart from
It is also harnessed by McCullough to present viewpoints that seem nonsensible initially, but are then explained using reason to the audience. For instance, the speaker puzzlingly proclaims, “If everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless” (McCullough 11). At first glance, these words defy logic. It makes one wonder how McCullough can claim that if all people are special, the opposite is true. In the same vein, McCullough’s affirmation that trophies, which are commonly held to icons of pride and victory, are worthless when they are received by everyone seeking one comes off as confusingly negative. However, when one reads into it more closely, coherence becomes evident. To be special, by definition, requires that no others be the same, which would be impossible if everyone were special. By extension, trophies, which are designed to separate one from their peers, would fail to do so if everyone received one. In making these points, McCullough highlights that being distinct (an already impossible feat, according to the orator) really doesn’t hold any perks and that it’s perfectly acceptable not stand out. To emphasize this claim, McCullough declares that “The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you’re not special” (15). The audience is likely scratching its collective head …show more content…
Anadiplosis accomplishes this by presenting a new perspective to his pupils and to reinforce the overarching message of the occasion: human individuality is a myth. McCullough elaborated that, “Your planet, I’ll remind you, is not the center of its solar system, you solar system is not the center of its galaxy, your galaxy is not the center of the universe” (10). He then takes it one step further by explaining from a logical standpoint how no human could be at the center. Also, the “zooming out”, that is built upon in the speech is intentional; the author is illustrating how minuscule we are in the grand scheme of things by gradually increasing the size of the view. This also fits in with many of his previous tactics, practiced in order to give the audience a new outlook so that they devote attention less to themselves. Together, these two effects allow the author to capitalize on his argument that no one is special enough to visibly affect the world and that it would be more beneficial for the students to look at the world apart from