Speak Character Analysis

Every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted, younger people are at the highest risk of sexual violence to compare Melinda is only 15. In the novel Speak by Laurie halse Anderson, Melinda is assaulted at a high school party that has affected her life with friends,family, and society which has changed her into a socially awkward person, Melinda attends Merryweather High School a school with social groups that Melinda is excluded from. Speak has an aggressive conflict that is present throughout the entire novel with person vs society at her high school, person vs self when Melinda socializes with old friends, and person vs person conflict against Andy Evans.

First, person vs society conflict exists in the novel at Merryweather High School an example is “We fall into clans: Jocks, Country Clubbers, Idiot Savants, Cheerleaders, Human Waste, Eurotrash, Future Fascists of America, Big Hair Chix, the Martha 's, Suffering Artists, Thespians, Goths, Shredders. I am clanless.” (Anderson 1) This example clearly displays conflict between Melinda and society. Melinda has entered high school with the wrong attitude and now Melinda doesn’t have anyone to sit

“You don 't like anything. You are the most depressed person I 've ever met, and excuse me for saying this, but you are no fun to be around and I think you need professional help.” (Anderson 105) This example clearly shows that there is conflict between Melinda’s and Heather 's relationship. This is because Melinda wants better friends, friends who aren 't depressed and boring to be around. “I push hard enough to raise one drop of blood.” (Anderson 195) This example exhibits tension between Melinda and Andy Evans. This is because Andy Evans is trying to rape Melinda and Melinda for once fights back against her own Nightmare. The conflict between Melinda and Andy Evans is noticeable and Melinda shows change in her