This Is Water Analysis

This is Water and Drenched in Light both place an emphasis on dealing with the 'default setting.' The way that we do this can contribute to our actions in future experiences and determine the extent at which we achieve the good life. In This is Water, David Wallace mainly focuses on our 'natural default setting.' This setting is said to be programmed within us to survive. It makes us more selfish, self centered, and only take ourselves into consideration when it comes to view points in situations and acting on them. He presents the idea that by finding a way to change this and keep other perspectives in mind it would help us become more well rounded and better off in life. "People who can adjust their natural default setting this way …show more content…
In a similar way as This is Water, it presents problems that can arise from the 'natural default setting.' The focal point of the story is a young girl named Isis and her grandmother. Isis is a character that expresses youth, innocence, has a sense of adventurism, is unapologetic. These traits led her to get into some trouble when she paid attention to this small voice in her head. In the beginning of the story she forgets about an upcoming punishment she was about to receive from her grandmother for having almost shaved her chin hairs in her sleep. She goes off to dance in a cloth her grandmother bought and when she sees her she reacts from her 'default setting.' “Mah Gawd, mah brand new table cloth Ah jus' bought f'um O'landah!” (696). A crowd had surrounded Isis while she was dancing, but the only thing her grandmother seemed to notice was of the negative aspects. She was using the new table cloth she had bought. She reacted from a sense of agitation, however, it is so much easier to react like this than it is to pause, take a step back, and laugh. This can cause us to feel miserable in life if we do this for everything. Isis even contemplated suicide over this because she knew what was awaiting her when she arrived home, a beating. She went to a water source in an effort to drown herself and instead got distracted by her vivid imagination. “Isis got up and waded into the water. She routed …show more content…
However, we do have the ability to control what goes on in our mind and how we react to the situation accordingly. As depicted in This is Water and Drenched in Light, adding onto the negative aspects of our lives by complaining or thinking that everyone is always in our way only makes us feel worse, not vice versa. To combat this we need to be aware, creative, and ultimately choose how we want to go about striving to achieve the good