Morrison Nobel Speech vs. This is Water

Both of these speeches were interesting, especially when looked at together.  The speakers each took a different approach in who they were directing the speech to. In Morrison's case, she wasn't directing her speech at the audience listening to her, but instead wants her audience to understand that language is important and that it will only continue to evolve as long as the new generations allow it to. She basically makes the point that "old" people can't change language and that it is in the hands of "young" people. In Wallace's speech, he is talking directly to his audience and telling them that life is going to be difficult sometimes and there are things that will get in the way. He continues by saying that you are only the "center" of your own world if you look at it that way, and so in order to not be bothered by things "getting in the way" they have to learn how to be conscious of others and what could drive them to "get in your way". Morrison's speech was appropriate for her Nobel Lecture since she was not speaking "to" the audience, but rather future generations. Wallace's speech was important for a commencement, since he was, in a sense, sending off students into the "real" world and letting them know that sometimes, life isn't all it's cracked up to be, but if they think outside of the box, they'll be more understanding and not let these trivialities get in the way of everything.