Unimpressive Land Debra Marquart

With constant focus on the world’s preferable locations, individuals always overlook the “unimpressive” ones. In Debra Marquart’s memoir, she places emphasize on her love for the Midwest land. Debra Marquart uses pathos, ironic juxtapositioning, and historical backing to demonstrate that Midwest is worth more than the labeled placed upon it. Debra Marquart defends her hometown of North Dakota through the use of her family’s pathos towards these lands. Between the years of 1885 and 191, her great-grandparents traveled a vast distance to reach South Dakota. Upon their arrival they were pleased to “receive their allotment of land” and placed an emphasis on their immense enthusiasm for finding the land (L 67-74). Through the explanation of her family member’s arrival, Marquart evaluates that although the land was unimpressive to Americans in that time period, these new immigrants were tremendously grateful for traveling far to obtain these lands. Rather than perceive the lands as “unfit for cultivation” (L. 39), the immigrants valued

Although the land was labeled as “useless” various immigrants ensured to overcome the obstacles to create an inhabitable environment. Rather than value the land’s unique flat texture, Edwin James quickly concluded that this land was “unfit for cultivation” but later his beloved land became a region that “struggled to recover” (L 40- 15). Edwin James at first provoked a change in the American’s point of view from his association, but later Marquart ensured to include this ironic juxtapose. These Americans left the Midwest to reside in another location, but it turned out to be much worse. The Midwest recovered, but Great American Desert never did. Through this demonstration of neglect, Marquart places emphasis that although these lands were displaced, the immigrant which later resided placed an enormous value and care for its