In the novel, Anderson’s Speak, there is a multitude of symbolism examples. A crucial example is how she avoided mirrors as much as she could. The mirror symbolizes how Melinda disgusts herself as if it were her fault she had been hurt. She used the mirror as a weapon towards Andy which symbolizes how she regained control of her emotions. Anderson uses the mirror to symbolize how Melinda disgusts herself and how she used it to regain her confidence. To start, mirrors remind Melinda of her flaws. She sees her flaws that lead her to feel weak and stupid about what had happened. She disgusted herself because she felt it was her fault Andy Evans had raped her. In the novel, Melinda states, “I get out of bed and take down the mirror. I put it
Furthermore, Melinda had admitted that she could “[feel] the wind blow and hear the mockingbird whistling on the way back to her nest. But when [she tries] to carve it, it looks like a dead tree, toothpicks, a child’s drawing. [She cannot] bring it to life” (78). She wistfully imagines confessing her distress, but she remains reluctant and retreats from transitioning into speaking again. There are many moments within the novel where Anderson uses symbolism to illustrate Melinda's desire to refurbish her life as this one, but it is hard for Melinda to do so without the choice of acknowledging what happened.
From that point onward, Melinda hides from herself by taking down or covering mirrors, an act to forget her past. It is made clear that Melinda dislikes looking at herself as it reminds her of what happened that night at the party. As can be seen in this quote, “I watch myself in the mirror across the room... Two muddy-circle eyes
She is able to cover it up by one of the greatest writer, Maya Angelou symbolizes the potential Melinda has. It is showing what she is able to achieve even though she is unable to realize it instead of who she is. Also it is showing how she eventually will use her art to help her talk to someone about what she went
Macy Scharpf Chin Honors English 9, Period 4 23 January 2023 Past events can often define the actions someone takes and who they are in the present. If society takes the time to analyze these actions, individuals can figure out the feelings of one another in a certain moment. “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson delineates the thoughts and feelings of a teenage girl, Melinda, as she navigates the highs and lows of high school, while carrying the weight of a past traumatic event. In the passage from the book, “Speak”, author Laurie Halse Anderson uses different types of figurative language such as similes and metaphors, as well as repetition to reveal Melinda’s negative thoughts on her past and current feelings about high school.
According to the NSVRC, 81% of women and 43% of men report sexual assault or rape in their lifetime. The critical literacy novel Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, takes place at Merryweather High. Melinda is starting her first year of high school with all of her freshman friends. Melinda has to face the hatred of everyone towards her because of one summer night party. Most people in ninth grade hate Melinda.
Without a doubt, a mirror is not just the only thing that shows Melinda is struggling with her identity in the story. There are a lot more things that you will find out that show Melinda is really
Melinda's internal conflict between speaking out about her assault and denying its reality is a central theme in the novel. On the night of a party she was invited to, she had too much to drink. She stumbled into a forest, unaware of the people and her surroundings. Andy Evans, a senior, took advantage of her drunken state and sexually assaulted her. The trauma from the night caused her to be in a state of denial and shock.
Anderson utilizes the mouth motif to show Melindas grown when she says, “I’m on a roll. I’m rocking. I don’t know what it is; standing up to Heather, planting marigold seeds, or maybe the look on Mom’s face when I asked if she would let me redecorate my room.” (Anderson 180). Melinda expressing that she is “on a roll” and planting seeds shows how she is coming out of her depression.
Symbolism is the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character. In Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson uses literary devices to help the reader better understand Melinda’s personal changes and growth. Trees, lips, and coldness are all symbolically used to represent the changes of Melinda. Throughout the novel, trees play a big part in symbolizing Melinda. Melinda is constantly drawing and relating to trees in the book.
Later in the book, the mirror was broken, this symbolizes Melinda being mentally broken and not being able to find her true self in her reflection in the mirror. Later the broken mirror acted as revenge against Andy and symbolized the change in character she had from the beginning of the book from being a victim to a survivor, “It wasn’t my fault. He hurt me. It wasn’t my fault.
For instance, she tells rachel about what happened at the party. Once Melinda learns that Andy and Rachel are attending prom together, she needed to tell Rachel about what Andy did. “I was stupid and drunk and I didn’t know what was happening and then he hurt-I scribbled that out-raped me” (183). Melinda finally telling someone about what happened is a perfect example of her recovery. At the beginning of the novel, she could not even talk to her friends.
We go through many stages in life, and they are both great and horrible. Our voices have the power to help us. In the novel, Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, the central idea is to use your voice and speak up against your trauma. Anderson used metaphors and external conflicts the character, Melinda Sordino, had as she struggled life in high school, freshman year. Anderson used those to show how Melinda felt throughout her first year of high school.
Symbolism can use an object (like a tree of birds), or art, (like Melinda’s art project or Mr. Freeman's canvas) to represent an abstract idea. Laurie Halse Anderson uses symbolism to hint at a certain mood or emotion, rather than just blatantly saying it. So, the use of symbolism is important because it helps create meaning and emotion in a story. Symbolism makes a book fun to read, the symbolism produces a thought provoking work of art and it, (like in this book), adds meaning to seemingly unrelated objects and elicits emotions in the
Mirror of course symbolizes reflection, it means that whatever I do will reflect in the future, therefore, I must think before doing any actions that might cause danger or harm in my future but it’s not only that but to reflect or to learn in my mistakes or to other things so I have to do my best in all things. The tent which is located below the shovel, symbolizes the need to get away from everyday life. I’m not really a fan of going to school nor stress and pressure. I love free time and doing stuffs that are not that important but for me it holds something valuable because it makes me happy but there is no escape in reality so I need to get up and face it
Even though the mirror lets Kyoko`s husband see refection’s of her, the moon, the water, and the outside world, it also reminds him that he is unable to get out of bed. Therefore, the mirror shows him everything he has loss; his ability to walk, work, and interact with others. The mirror also represents the eventual loss of his marriage and the beautiful world he currently sees. The text states that “in the course of time, it became