Herbert Gettridge Analysis

Herbert Gettridge was one of the many New Orleans residents that had to leave their home due to Hurricane Katrina. Gettridge, however, came back to his mildly demolished home in hopes of restoring his old life. Individually, he experiences many setbacks. The first one is coping with the destruction of his home which he worked hard for years to build. The house has a great value to him because he is a 5th generation New Orleanian and his ancestors worked as slaves to get him where he is now. He may as well judge the way he built his house by thinking how such a premises fell as if it was made of sand. Secondly, he will be depressed by the memories he had before the hurricane. The mere thoughts of not being with his wife, children and grandchildren will haunt him. His family is scattered throughout the nation and most of them
He may as well be haunted by the thought of not being able to see his grand grandchildren ever again. Thirdly, he is pushing himself to the extreme by trying to revive his home so that his wife can return. Being past the age checkpoint of eighty, Mr. Gettridge doesn’t possess the same energy he had when he built his house. Due to the current circumstances, however, he is putting his health on the line. Last but not least, he feels that he has been left out by the government. He can do only much on his own, and not being able to receive any support from the outside will demoralize him. It’s a heavy load for anyone to single-handedly manage.

Regardless of the huge traumatic impact Hurricane Katrina has inflicted on Mr. Gettridge, the stakes are far beyond his individual duels. They span to the extent of destabilizing many families, the state, and the federal government. Mr. Gettridge has lost not only his home but his neighborhood as well. Even though he