FREE ESSAY ON MALL OF AMERICA

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.