Mall Of America
David Guterson’s narrative about the Mall of America delves into several
facets that are embedded throughout the mall both physically and mentally. A
vivid description about the mall’s interior design makes the audience feel like
they have visited the mall. Guterson also writes about how people, individually
and as a society, are effected psychologically by this
pseudo-metropolis.
The grandeur of the mall is, without question, second
to none. Shoppers are drawn to visit because of all the modern frills contained
within. A theme park, arcade, hundreds of shops, and eateries are the staples of
the mall, but the gardens, flowers, and trees define the mall as being “the best
of the best.” The atmosphere created by combining “Mother Earth” with twentieth
century technology creates a certain mystique to the mall and gives the shopper
a very comfortable place to spend the day or maybe even days.
In true
American nature, record amounts of money were spent on building the mall, and
some workers employed by the mall are or were underpaid. However, Americans
thirst for a place they can go to escape from their everyday problems. Our
nature is to be materialistic at times, and I really do not see a major problem
with indulging ourselves every now and again, but I find a problem when material
things are used to determine success, power, and self worth. The Mall of America
truly represents America as a society but not as individuals.