Priority and Perspective in "The View From Mrs. Thompson's" Anonymous 12th Grade

“The View From Mrs. Thompson’s” is an account of the author’s experiences in Bloomington, Illinois directly following the 9/11 attacks. Largely based around his thoughts while watching events unfold on TV at a neighbour’s house, the essay contains descriptions of the clips shown and insight into the reactions of the people surrounding the author. The word "view" can mean either a sight or a mindset, and it is clear that both meanings resonate in Wallace's essay.

At first, Wallace concentrates not on the tragedy itself, but on his efforts to purchase a flag to display in the event's wake. Although they're everywhere in his hometown, uniting citizens across lines of class and geography, he's unable to find one, and fears that the sight of his home without a flag will appear to be a negative statement on his part. Questioning his neighbours as to their reasons for hanging up flags, he notes that their statements are fairly identical: it's about unity, support, and pride. Although he eventually creates a makeshift flag from paper and Magic Markers, the power of appearances and images to variably unite and isolate is an important theme in the essay, and one that seems especially relevant considering the racial profiling that...