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

the worth through recovering the great plains to allow for an establishments of homes to open up. Marquart ensure to exemplify that although these lands were taken for granted by Americans, they were put to great use by immigrants since the land continues to be inhabitable.
Debra Marquart further conveying the audience through ironical juxtapose of the land’s previous history.

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

survival.
Debra Marquart also conveys her audience through the use of historical backing. She further evaluates her points by including the “Land Ordinance of 1785” (L 48), to explain that the “worthless land” helped shape American technology, due to its help in creating longitude and latitude. Marquart not only evaluated what makes North Dakota valued in the 2000s, but went back two hundred years to demonstrate that these unwanted lands served a purpose. Through this she helps gain recognition that these lands are valuable and places emphasis on the importance of them.
Debra Marquart uses pathos from her family’s background, ironic juxtapose and historical backing to raise awareness to this overlooked location and her love for the land.