Speak Laurie Halse Anderson Analysis

Words: 1271
Pages: 6
Open Document
Is it possible to lose oneself and have the life drained out of him or her by another’s misdeed? It most certainly can, according to Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak. Anderson’s novel revolves around a fourteen year old girl named Melinda Sordino, who was raped at a summer party. Traumatized and not sure of what to do, Melinda calls the police, but escapes in fright as chaos breaks out and several are arrested. Melinda then starts off her freshman year of high school loathed by nearly every student at Merryweather. Her inability to inform someone, anyone, about what really happened that night leads to her disintegration physically and mentally. However, certain activities, such as her art class and a tree Melinda is assigned to create, …show more content…
This season has a positive vibe to it, one that gives hope and makes everything in the world feel fine. Melinda’s personality before she was raped can be seen as this vibrant, nonchalant period. Anderson comments through Melinda that “I used to be like Heather. Have I changed that much in two months?” (Anderson 24). Heather, the student Melinda befriends on the first day of school, is portrayed as a talkative, optimistic, and outgoing girl. To remark that Melinda was like her shows that she used to be a spirited person, someone who had a great life and looked forward to the future. Anderson also touches upon Melinda’s friendship with the Plain Janes. At one moment, Melinda recalls her Halloween from the previous year and states “We raced through the night, a clan of untouchable witches. I actually thought for a moment that we could cast spells, could turn people into frogs or rabbits, to punish the evil and reward the good” (Anderson 40). Being filled with power and knowing that her friends were by her side gave Melinda the feeling that she could do anything. The Plain Janes were extremely close to each other, and Melinda had a strong relationship with them, exhibiting that she was fun to be with and a lively person. Unfortunately everything went downhill by that horrible …show more content…
The sun sticks around longer, nature comes back to life, and the world is kinder. Plants begin to bud, saplings gain health and height, and trees grow their leaves again. Everyone starts over in this season, including Melinda. As her father explains to a curious child about the pruning of an oak tree in his yard, “He’s [the arborist] not chopping it down. He's saving it. Those branches were long dead from disease. All plants are like that. By cutting off the damage, you make it possible for the tree to grow again" (Anderson 187). Through her father’s words, Melinda realizes that she needs to trim her own dead branches, to speak of her unspoken secret. She knows it will be difficult and painful, but knowing that it will allow her to grow gives her confidence. Inspired by the new world around her, Melinda decides to save herself, to be a survivor and not a victim. Melinda again voices her willingness to heal when she expresses interest in not only clearing up her yard but to also create a beautiful garden in it. As stated, Melinda gathers up the courage and “rakes the leaves out of my [her] throat. Me: ‘Can you buy some seeds? Flower seeds?’" (Anderson 168). This shows that Melinda wants to become the healthiest she can be, to go above and beyond simply speaking again. Melinda has finally won her old self
Show More

Related Documents: Speak Laurie Halse Anderson Analysis

Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson: Character Analysis

During my initial reading of “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson, I noticed how pessimistic the main character, Melinda, is. Because Speak is written from her point of view, it gives the idea that everything about Melinda’s life is miserable. Melinda’s depressing view on life was due to her being raped by Andy Evans, a high-school senior, during a summer party. At school, Melinda rarely talks to others unless it’s absolutely necessary and does a lot of thinking based on her surroundings. In my opinion…

Words 631 - Pages 3

Laurie Halse Anderson Speak Analysis

“Speak”, by Laurie Halse Anderson, shows Melinda’s ‘coming of age’ through her thoughts, struggles, and difficult transitional period from middle school to high school. The author gives the reader insight on Melinda’s secrets, memories, and her opinions of those around her. As the novel progresses, you experience ‘coming of age’ moments with Melinda, in addition to discovering her biggest influential moment, the time she was raped. During the course of “Speak”, Melinda struggles internally as…

Words 427 - Pages 2

Analysis Of Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson

In Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main character is The people in the book is Melinda , Rachel, Mr.Neck. The high school is Merryweather high and the thing is blue devils. The author wants Melinda to speak about her problems Explain the problems with her family. The problem with her family they are always too busy to ask her or talk to her about things they don’t have enough time to spend with her because they are always working. Throughout the book, Melinda has problems with her family.…

Words 268 - Pages 2

Speak Laurie Halse Anderson Character Analysis

Courage Essay Martin Luther King Jr has an superior understanding of courage, stating "We must build dikes of courage to hold back the fools of fear". Laurie Halse Anderson would most certainly with this statement because she has made an entire book about a girl showing courage. In the book "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson who displays courage? The main character and one less obvious character shows courage in the book. The main character is a Melinda and she shows courage by sticking up you to…

Words 611 - Pages 3