Debra Marquart The Horizontal World Summary

To the early American settlers in the 1800s, the Midwest was a place of mystery and potential. They daydreamed of paradisiacal land and immense profits; however, their opinions altered quickly upon arrival. In this excerpt from “The Horizontal World,” Debra Marquart effectively argues that even though the Midwest was disappointing and boring to most, that land is essential to the well being to the country as a whole, and brings hope to those coming from abroad. The first technique utilized by Marquart to build her argument is the upbringing of the negative aspects of the land. Although this may seem counterproductive, the author does this in order to make the positives of the land seem more profound. One of these Midwest states, North Dakota, is immediately characterized as “lonely, treeless, and a devoid of rises and curves,” which severely lacks an appeal to prospective landowners. Marquart even goes as far as to describe the land as “like one long-held pedal steel guitar note,” to emphasize the monotony of the landscape. While avoiding any details of the inhabitants, the author clearly depicts the anticlimactic physical features in the Midwest. …show more content…
By describing the people as “blond, fresh-faced, and midwestern” a sense of relatability and trust is immediately built between the author and reader. Those who call these square states home are ordinary people who are “the folks presidents talk to when times require.” This “Heartland” of the United States is what “holds down the center of the country,” and even if the land is not a vacation destination, The Midwestern states are essential for the well being and unity of the American people, and Marquart captures this idea perfectly in the body paragraphs of her