In what ways could Wallace’s theory about education be applicable to the writing of Alice Munro? Justify your conclusion:
Wallace's theory about education is that it should dissipate topics which will increase human conscience and self-awareness. According to Wallace, humans are almost programmed like robots to day to day jobs without questioning their existence and having only themselves at the center of the universe. According to him, to be truly "enlightened" or aware, one must take into all that is going on around him/her and be present in the moment. This is what he meant by "This is Water". In regards to how this ties in with Alice Munro, I think it fits into the themes she covers in stories such as Passion, Moons of Jupiter, Royal Beatings and especially Family Furnishings.
In Passion, Munro discusses how the protagonist, who was accustomed to her day job of being a waitress and having a standard boyfriend, dared to ask for more. The protagonist had a phase of self-awareness and realization of what she really wants from life, in which she had deeper and darker desires. However, this may also oppose Wallace's preachings about how one should not look at themselves as the center of the universe. This is because the protagonist completely dismisses the thoughts, love, and emotions of her ex-boyfriend in order to pursue her interests. This theme is also witnessed in Family Furnishings when Munro talks about how the protagonist was completely engrossed in her self-benefit by running away from her problems due to being embarrassed by her mother's sickness. However, the most closely linked tie is that of Alfrieda and the protagonists battle. The conflict of the protagonist vs. Alfrieda is one that is fuelled solely by ego. The protagonist takes a complex against Alfrieda because of the fact she stops visiting her families and doesn't take into account the alternate realities that could possibly exist. As the novel progresses, the protagonists hate towards Alfrieda only increases as she feels that Alfrieda has wronged her and has no status to even talk to her. However, at the end of the novel, the protagonist realizes what an important role Alfrieda has played in her life and even goes to the extent of saying that she wants her life to be exactly like Alfrieda's. This is congruent to David Wallace's assertions of how humans need to be more self-conscious and need to have a different approach to problems and relationships. When Wallace talks about how a busy job worker may be experiencing difficulties coping up with the horrible grocery place scenario and starts to immediately hate everyone that is present there, this is mirrored in the scene in which the protagonist visits Alfreda. Her immediate mindset is to have a negative attitude towards Alfrieda and have a condescending mindset to her without thinking of the alternate realities that could have been present.
