M.C. Higgins the Great is a coming-of-age story. As the narrative begins, M.C. Higgins is worried about his family’s future. They live at the base of a mountain that has been strip mined, leaving behind sludge and a ravaged landscape. M.C. feels that his father does not understand how serious their living situation is. The mountain could slide at any moment and take out their home. The family has lived on the mountain for generations and his father cannot phantom living anywhere else.
When M.C. hears that a man is on the mountain recording the voices of the locals, he dreams that this man will come and record his mother’s angelic voice and make her a star. This will allow the family to move from their home to Nashville where they will live in comfort with no fear.
James K. Lewis does come to record Banina Higgins. He sees the damage of the mountain and is scared for the Higgins family. He tells M.C. that the mountain could slip at anytime and take out their home. This adds to M.C.’s apprehension. His father loves the mountain and will not leave their home. He does not want to admit that there is anything wrong with the stability of the mountain.
Life on the mountain is hard. The community faces superstitions and prejudice. The Killburn family live in the mountains near the Higgins family. They are seen as witchy so no one in the community associates with the family. M.C.’s friend Ben is part of the Killburn family. They must keep their friendship secret so meet in the woods away from their homes. M.C. does not like that his father will not touch anything that the Killburn’s touch. He makes his son deal with the Killburn’s when they come to the house selling ice.
M.C. spends most of his time on the 40-foot pole that his father erected in the yard for M.C. He sits on top the pole swaying back and forth and surveying the mountain and beyond. He dreams of what is beyond the mountain and how to keep his family safe.
The arrival of Lurhetta Outlaw brings a change to M.C.’s life. He does not spend as much time on the 40-foot pole. He wants to be with Lurhetta. Lurhetta fascinates him because she travels on her own and has an independent spirit. M.C. becomes jealous of Ben when Lurhetta does not abide by the superstition of the community and shun the Killburn’s. She wants to visit their farm and admires how generations of the family live interconnected with the land.
Through Lurhetta’s eyes M.C. sees the community and his home in a new light. It makes him see that the mountain is his home and rather than find ways to leave it he should fight to save it. He begins to build a wall at the back of the house to protect it, when the mountain slips. His father seeing his effort and that all the children support and help him offers his help. The family changes as the story progresses. They must adapt or stagnate.
M.C. starts the story wanting to leave the mountain to save his family. He learns that to save his family they must stay on the mountain. Family is the most important thing in his life and he will fight to keep them safe. He learns that people will come go from your life, but family will always have your back.
