Essay
Speak
In Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak novel, the author wants to explain to readers the importance of helping others when they are depressed or outcast, because ignoring them will have a negative effect and in some cases they will suicide. The author also proves how hard it is to get recovered and transformed after bad experiences like bullying and sexual harassment.
Some bad experiences transform our lives and leave bad memories that can’t be erased or removed. Melinda had a terrible experience with Andy and she was scared to tell it to others. She was raped and assaulted and kept it a secret. “Some guy raped me. Under the trees. I didn’t know what to do... I didn’t know what was happening and then he hurt, raped me” page (183). Words can’t express Melinda’s feelings after what she went through. After this disaster, Melinda’s life was transformed into a nightmare that hunted her every night.
It is hard to get involved in a society that no one gives attention or care. Melinda was an outcast and was feeling lonely. “I need a new friend. I need a friend, period” page (22). From the beginning of the school, Melinda feels the loneliness and the ignorance from her friends. This was painful for her, she got more depressed by her environment and surroundings. Rachel, her ex best friend, instead of understanding and helping Melinda, she transformed her bad situation into worse by imposing her unpleasant attitude on her.
Positive transformations help to overcome unsolved problems. Melinda struggles to supress her feelings and transform herself to the girl she used to be before. “It wasn’t my fault, and I am not going to let it kill me. I can grow” page (198). Melinda tries to get stronger and she succeeded by speaking her inner sufferings and changing her personality. This was a major positive transformation to Melinda’s life and a new start in her social environment.
In this tragic novel, Melinda had negative...