Isolation from the outside world will only worsen one’s inner problems. That was a proven theme in Laurie Halse Anderson’s ‘Speak.’From the get go, the main character, Melinda, isolated herself from the outside world. At a party during summer vacation, Melinda was sexually assaulted by Andy Evans, aka IT. For the majority of the year, she kept to herself. Her inner problems only further ate away inside of her. Tearing her insides, ripping away at her. Destroying her bit by bit. Only because she wouldn’t speak. She couldn’t speak , she had no idea how to. Yet then she did. She told Rachel, who was dating IT. Her former best friend. Trying to save her from IT. “How can I talk to them about that night? How can I start?” (Halse Anderson 72).
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"I hate you," she mouths silently.” (Halse Anderson 7). When Melinda decided to call the cops, because she was raped by IT, and broke up the party, she instantly became one of the most hated people in her school. This took a huge toll on her because, again, she had no support. No one to lean on, or tell everything. No one wanted to have anything to do with her. Even her best friends despised her. Now, when Rachel throws these words at her, she breaks. She was hoping she could tell her, Rachel was the person she wanted to tell the most. This was the person she grew up with. One of the only people to accept her for who she is. Then she was gone, just like that. Instead of telling her what happened right off the bat, everything just got worse. However, at the end of the book when she finally does speak to Rachel, and admit everything, things begin to look …show more content…
Shut your trap, button your lip, can it. All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say.” (Halse Anderson 9). Melinda actually believed this. Though eventually she disproves this to herself, most of the book she believed this. Melinda made it a point not to talk to anyone, avoiding every opportunity to talk. When her ‘fake friend’ Heather asks her for her to do a countless number of things that benefit only Heather, she shuts her trap and goes along with all of it. Until towards the end, when Melinda once and for all throws Heather to the curb, this treatment hurts Melinda even more. Subconsciously Melinda knows Heather is using her, she goes along with it in fear of appearing friendless.This only makes her feel worse. If she had dumped her sooner, she would have been better
"I hate you," she mouths silently.” (Halse Anderson 7). When Melinda decided to call the cops, because she was raped by IT, and broke up the party, she instantly became one of the most hated people in her school. This took a huge toll on her because, again, she had no support. No one to lean on, or tell everything. No one wanted to have anything to do with her. Even her best friends despised her. Now, when Rachel throws these words at her, she breaks. She was hoping she could tell her, Rachel was the person she wanted to tell the most. This was the person she grew up with. One of the only people to accept her for who she is. Then she was gone, just like that. Instead of telling her what happened right off the bat, everything just got worse. However, at the end of the book when she finally does speak to Rachel, and admit everything, things begin to look …show more content…
Shut your trap, button your lip, can it. All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say.” (Halse Anderson 9). Melinda actually believed this. Though eventually she disproves this to herself, most of the book she believed this. Melinda made it a point not to talk to anyone, avoiding every opportunity to talk. When her ‘fake friend’ Heather asks her for her to do a countless number of things that benefit only Heather, she shuts her trap and goes along with all of it. Until towards the end, when Melinda once and for all throws Heather to the curb, this treatment hurts Melinda even more. Subconsciously Melinda knows Heather is using her, she goes along with it in fear of appearing friendless.This only makes her feel worse. If she had dumped her sooner, she would have been better