Depression In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
In this current generation depression is becoming more and more prevalent in impressionable teenagers. This issue of depression is also an important theme in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson in which the main character Melinda tries to overcome after a traumatic summer party. Throughout the novel there are many displays and signs of Melinda's depression. Of these signs the three most noticeable include her low self-esteem which is seen in every one of her decisions, habits of isolation/social withdrawal at school and even at home, and self harm. She unveils these signs of depression with every test and challenge she faces. Melinda goes into a downward spiral; with her forms of expressing and coping with depression becoming progressively …show more content…
After another evening of her parents arguing and interrogating her she runs to her haven, her bedroom where she attempts to suicide “pitifully”. “I open up a paper clip and scratch it across the inside of my left wrist. Pitiful. [...] I draw little windowcracks of blood, etching line after line until it stops hurting.”, she even treats her attempt a suicide “pitiful”. Melinda cutting herself is a sign of her finding a way to cope with her mental health issues. Dealing with the constant nonsense at school, at home, and in the past leaves Melinda with little breathing space. This is not the only instance of Melinda injuring herself, on many occasions she has coped with the mental suffrage through self harm. She bites her lips until she tastes the blood. “I bite my lip. [...] My lip bleeds a little.”. Her former best friend Rachel or rather Rachelle mouths to Melinda “I hate you”. To bring the pain away from her mind she brings pain to her body. To forget all the things Rachel did, “IT” did. Everytime something triggers her or brings her to the past she resorts to self harm or self degradation. Melinda is in dire need of a guide and someone that will help her. On a long enough time frame this method of coping through self harm will lead Melinda to a worse state than she is now with more physical and mental
Overcoming Trauma In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
562 Words | 3 PagesAdditionally, Melinda uses negative ways to cope by doing self-harm and isolating herself. Melinda also uses positive mechanisms to cope with her trauma by expressing herself through art and standing up for herself. Melinda states, "For a solid week, ever since the pep rally, I’ve been painting watercolors of trees that have been hit by lightning” (Anderson 30). This demonstrates how Melinda uses the arts to creatively express her emotions. She is also showing Mr. Freeman how she feels, which is a positive gesture.
Melinda Betrayed Quotes
728 Words | 3 PagesAnother way Melinda is betrayed by her friends, is when the book quotes on page (105-106) “(Heather)You are the most depressed person i've
The Motifs In Melinda's Tree By Laurie Halse-Anderson
729 Words | 3 PagesMelinda is a Freshman in high school, and she doesn’t speak throughout the whole entire year, because of an issue she faced during the summer. Laurie Halse-Anderson tells a lot in her book Speak about how many important issues young people face every day. In this essay, there will be three motifs about the themes Laurie Anderson put in her book, Melinda’s tree, the weather, and Melinda’s lips. Melinda faced a lot of issues, but there were somethings that gave off how she was feeling. The first was her tree project.
Melinda Sordino As A Dynamic Character In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
535 Words | 3 PagesThe author’s greater purpose with this conflict is to connect with readers who may be survivors of rape. She wants to create a familiar setting and tone with these readers so they may relate to the story. Melinda’s mental state at this point of story leaves you wondering: Will she be able to conquer her
Summary Of Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
998 Words | 4 PagesMelinda also exhibits self-loathing tendencies by avoiding mirrors and by engaging in negative self-talk. This aspect of the novel will allow for the reader to relate to how Melinda is dealing with the situation, but also to self-identify how they are dealing with their situation differently. The decline in Melinda’s functioning is quite extensive; she stops engaging in conversation and her hygiene, school work and attendance plummet. Here, the reader is shown how extensive the effects trauma can have in someone’s life and allows them to learn about it in a private setting without the pressure of speaking about what has happened to them
Inequal Treatment And Mental Issues In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
369 Words | 2 PagesMelinda feels that because of what she did she is treated poorly which leads to her having depression. “... I don't have anyone to sit with. I am an outcast. There is no point in looking for my ex friends.” (4) Melinda is right.
What Are The Themes In The Novel 'Will' By Maria Boyd
184 Words | 1 PagesMaria Boyd’s novel “Will” clearly demonstrates and showcases multiple existing values, beliefs and ideologies. One such theme which we constantly see is that of depression. Throughout the novel, this theme is challenged and developed on. One such example Will, the protagonist, and his one sided conversations with his deceased father. This constant reminiscence of his father are only present in the latter half of the book when the theme of depression is much more prevalent.
Analysis Of Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
1141 Words | 5 PagesHer grades weren’t helping her either, She was consistently getting made fun of being talked about and abandoned by everyone because they didn't know the truth due to Melinda not speaking up for herself. The author also symbolizes mirrors in the book because Melinda took the mirror down from her room due to herself not being able to recognize herself anymore, she was a whole new person she never knew. Melinda also took a maya angelou poster and covered her mirror in her safe place. Maya Angelou was an author who was a selective mute and there is a connection between her and Melinda as they both did not speak, Melinda for the first 3 quarters of school was very quiet and to herself. Melinda heavily avoided Andy Evans the guy who
Melinda Sordino Quotes
474 Words | 2 PagesAlthough I would like to help her navigate herself during hardship, she does not consider nor care for her impact on others. If Melinda truly loved her friends, she would be able to comprehend the importance of balance between struggle and effort. This leads to my third point, Melinda does not have the capacity to love. Her situation is far from her fault, as she carries an emptiness within her in response to unwieldy trauma. I believe this emptiness is a result of the absence of self-love.
Use Of The Mouth Motif In Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak
779 Words | 4 PagesThis finally shows how much Melinda has grown and how much she has found her voice. Melinda's growth is demonstrated through her finally being able to say no to Andy unlike the first time, and Melinda saying no shows how she was able to find her voice. Melinda's growth and escape from depression is expressed at the end of the
Examples Of Character Development In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson
755 Words | 4 PagesAt the end of the story she finally found her voice and was able to stand up for herself. In the beginning, Melinda didn't talk to anyone, barely even to her parents. She says, “I have tried so hard to forget every second of that stupid party and here I am in the middle of a hostile crowd that hates me for what I had to do. I can't tell them what really happened” (Anderson, 28).
Symbolism In Laurie Halse Anderson's 'Speak'
805 Words | 4 PagesAfter Melinda admits to herself that she was raped, Melinda starts to realize that
The Symbolism Of Melinda's Tree In Speak By Halse Anderson
1096 Words | 5 PagesImagine being through a traumatic event and didn’t know how to tell someone, or maybe not had anyone to talk to about how you were feeling? That's how Melinda Sordino felt as the main character in the book Speak by Halse Anderson. Melinda was going through the hells of highschool alone after being raped at a party, and ditched by all of her friends who she thought cared about her. She is bullied, harassed, picked on, and failing all of her classes. Except for art class where she finds the only place that she feels safe anymore.
Banned Book Research Paper
859 Words | 4 PagesMelinda was raped as a young girl heading into her first year of high school and what happened after that was a catastrophe and would change her life and her peers view of her. Melinda perpetually haunted by her treacherous past memories struggled to stay happy and sane throughout her overwhelming first year of high school. Melinda evolves over time as she longs to be her past happy self again she slowly but surely begins to regain her happiness and self-confidence. With life-changing events coming at Melinda every which way, she experiences the highs and the lows and finds little things in life like her extraordinary passion for art to help her get through the toughest times in her life. This story will make your heart melt with sorrow and compassion, but also bring to you a remarkable story with realistic like events and settings.
Essay On Symbolism In The Book Speak
1197 Words | 5 PagesMelinda, in a lot of ways, starts out like that it the book. She becomes a shell of herself from before the party happened and because no one else was there, she is lonely and doesn't have anybody to go to and to make matters even worse, she’s covered by the reputation that she has formed. In the book, Laurie Halse Anderson uses symbolism to convey exactly what Melinda can't say. In the beginning of the book, Melinda starts high school carrying her emotional wounds with her after something happens mysterious to her at a party during the summer.
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