Character Analysis Of Melinda In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak
Melinda’s life changes causing a dramatic turn for the worst. This case causes trauma and her future reflects from it. Melinda is faced with a devastating series of events because of Andy Evans, her parents, and her friends. Melinda does not understand how to tell anyone what truly happened and she is afraid people will know her as “The girl who called the cops”. In the book, it says, “The girl pokes me harder. ‘Aren’t you the one who called the cops at Kyle Rodger’s party at the end of the summer.” (27) Also, it says, “I shake my head. Another girl chimes in. ‘My brother got arrested at that party. He got fired because of the arrest. I can’t believe you did that.” (28) Melinda cannot talk about the rational reason she called the police.

Melinda runs into major issues at a party during the fall. Melinda was raped and there was not anything she could do about it. Andy is constantly reminding her of the night. In biology class, Melinda is faced with dissecting a frog. The process of starting the dissection is to tie the frog's legs down. Melinda then had a flashback of when Andy covered her mouth while she was trying to say “no” and was on top of her on the ground. In the book, it says, “David pins her froggy hands to the dissection tray. He spreads her froggy legs and pins her froggy feet. I have to slice open her belly. She doesn't say a word. She is already dead. A scream starts in my gut-I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair.”(81) This is significant to the topic because this event symbolizes how Andy scarred Melinda and how she will never be able to forget the event. The frog represents how Melinda was raped and there is no longer a body or soul she feels comfortable talking to about it. Melinda struggles with keeping the same relationships she once had. Melinda’s family becomes very distant and comes to the stage of Melinda is not sure they care like they once