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Melinda Sordino As A Dynamic Character In Speak By Laurie Halse Anderson

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Speak

“When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time”. This quote displays the harsh truth that many people must face in their daily lives, as well as the main character of the book Speak. This impactful fictional story was written by Laurie Halse Anderson who is a humorous author born in New York on October 23, 1961. She is currently 61 years old. The most influential character in this book is Melinda Sordino. I first became aware of her character development when she began to grow from her trauma. She once admits, “IT happened. There is no avoiding it, no forgetting. No running away, or flying, or burying, or hiding.” It is without a doubt that this is a dynamic character because it clearly identifies Melinda’s development. Rather than being a static character, she is able to overcome her anxiety, PTSD, and fear in order to accept the truth of what happened to her. Throughout the story, she is presented as an extremely silent person. Her personality differs from her friend Heather’s because Melinda is not outgoing, social, or extroverted. However, through her journey of acceptance and growth, she is able to improve her mental health and behavior because of her dedication. …show more content…

One of them is how Melinda must deal with the trauma of Andy’s assault. Melinda constantly sees Andy around school and it terrifies her. Just the sight of him is enough to cause a panic and remind her of the night it happened. Melinda is left with excess anxiety, and it causes her to behave coldly towards others. This results in Melinda’s only friend abandoning her because her behavior is too upsetting. The 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

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