Analysis of James Nolan’s book Higher Grounds

James Nolan’s book Higher Grounds accounts for the life of New Orleans people in the aftermath of a hurricane that completely destroyed the city. The book explores how this event impacted the lives of these dwellers, changing their lives in ways that could not be imagined. The event resulted in the desperation of inhabitants who remained and moved in after the tragedy ended in New Orleans. The collective tragedy left the inhabitants of New Orleans in hopeless situations that most never anticipated. Thus, amidst hopelessness and desperation culminating from the negative impact of collective tragedy, the hurricane opened a “higher ground” for the people of New Orleans to achieve limitless opportunities.

Higher Ground is a novel that explores the life of a city trying to fight for its life following its wreckage. This wreckage resulted in a new form of living among the New Orleans dwellers who had to adopt new ways of living and thinking to survive in the wrecked city. To many, such as the cantankerous Miss Gertie, the hurricane reduced her to a drug dealer in a Chinese Restaurant. Miss Gertie was a prominent businesswoman working as an evacuee from Lakeview, but after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city, she lost her business and home. In great desperation and hopelessness, she indulges in illegal business with Gary to at least earn a living. Indeed, the hurricane shattered her dreams and joy as her desperation led her to Gary, where she had to indulge in the trafficking of drugs like Valium, Xanax, and Vicodin. Despite her old age, Miss Gertie is involved with drug trafficking, disregarding her social standing and social class she held before the calamity. However, she comes to the realization of the lost hope in the city and tries to redeem herself by asserting that “I’m moving to higher grounds” (Nolan. 2011). This assertion seems to show her determination to strive in the city and lend a modest life that seeks unity and justice for the ills in society. Her declaration, “I’m moving to higher grounds,” seems to show a changed sense of belonging and the start of a home amidst the ruins and mayhem in the city.

In the wake of their struggles, citizens of New Orleans, comprising bereaved mothers, drug dealers, drug queens, and illegal immigrants, come together and unite around Miss Gertie to seek justice and survive. These individuals form a new community that is full of diversity that calls for redemption and fights against crooked politicians who abandon them at a time of need. The collective destruction resulted in a wake-up call for the protagonist of New Orleans, who proclaims they need to move to “higher ground” (Nolan. 2011). Citizens of New Orleans established a community that they never thought existed as they required each other, and it brought out great goodness in citizens. The calamity flashed out the good in people as they needed to survive in their shaky new environment that was threatened by all sorts of vises, such as corruption, drugs, and murder. The realization of New Orleans people provides hope for their desperate situation and for them to collaborate for a better future. The coming together makes these individuals superior against all forces that threaten their survivors, such as corruption and social injustices that pervaded this society. With such resilience in a disaster-stricken city, the New Orleans citizens prove that despite their tragic situation, they can reconstruct their society towards possibilities and a better future. Thus, even if disasters can awaken the badness and goodness in people, their desire to prosper makes them exhibit goodness towards others for their survival.

In conclusion, Nolan’s novel Higher Ground illustrates that through hope and resilience in every situation, nothing is permanent. The novel depicts how hope springs up in desperate situations, igniting a sense of belongingness and purpose in life. The aftermath of the hurricane provided the citizens of New Orleans with an opportunity to recreate their community and eliminate the vices of corruption in society. As the title suggests, “Higher Ground,” the new society required to rise above the degradations, vulnerability, and corruption that was established following the hurricane. The survivors and new arrivals need to determine how to carry on with their lives and obtain a higher moral ground while also creating some form of redemptive joy away from the mayhem created by the hurricane. Thus, the hope and joy that occur at the end of their struggle show that every downfall has its upside and possibilities.

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