High House

The high house is symbolic of the future. As soon as Francesca realizes that environmental devastation is near, she begins to convert the high house into a refuge for her son and stepdaughter. She does so in order to grant them a future beyond the climate crisis.

Village

The village just beyond high house is symbolic of community. As the flood nears, Sally, Grandy, Caro, and Pauly watch the village emptying out. The more abandoned the village becomes, the more the family's loneliness and isolation grows.

Flood

The flood is symbolic of the climate crisis. The author uses the flood as a representation of environmental devastation. The flood, like the twenty-first century climate crisis, has been impending for many years, but the characters and their predecessors have chosen to ignore the warning signs.

Church

The church is symbolic of comfort. Although Grandy no longer attends...