Shipping Out

               David Foster Wallace recounts his journey, for the first time, on a luxury cruise.  He begins writing a generalized summary regarding all of his unique experiences, for good or bad (mostly bad).  Additionally, he discusses the propaganda which is used to lure people onto the cruises.  Wallace includes specific quotes and examples which enforce his claims.  He is sure to add his own opinion on what all of this means, even dissecting individual advertisements.  This analysis gives the reader a unique perspective as to what Wallace thinks with regards to his trip.  Then, Wallace goes on to tell the story as it happened chronologically.  He only stops to add his own personal reactions to these experiences.  For example, Wallace includes descriptions of many specific shirts or sunglasses or other items, which he then expands upon to show that all of these “Nadirits” (as he called them) are typical American tourists.  He continues to write about how these people and their touristy actions negatively affect, primarily through embarrassment, Wallace.

               Regardless of what the specific situation was, Wallace always related it back to himself and how it affected him, whether positively or negatively.  Without these connections being drawn, it would make it difficult for the reader to relate to the writing.  Instead of the writing being a simple summary of Wallace’s cruise, he was able to make it into something interesting for many readers by showing his reactions to the various situations on the cruise.  Whether it be the curiosity regarding the cleaning of Room 1009 or the cruise which pulls up next to Nadir, Wallace is able to write about his feelings to make it not just any event, but a meaningful event.  There are many more areas in which the reader is able to relate to Wallace since he expands on his experiences, as opposed to if this article were simply a summary of his cruise.  In addition to Wallace’s reflections benefitting the readers by creating a more interesting article, his reflections also help Wallace.  As the author, Wallace benefits greatly by his reflections because they created meaning, which is seen in the conclusion of the article.  Wallace is able to closely relate the hypnotist’s works with his own feelings that he wrote about early on, regarding everything that went on throughout the cruise.