Melinda's Speak Character Analysis

Communication often defines the characteristics of a person. Showing how you express yourself through transmission of words can illustrate how others perceive you. Melinda has troubles with expressing herself vocally. Due to obvious reasons, she went through a complete personality change after being sexually assaulted. This caused her to face the struggle of communication, not allowing herself to speak up and confront her fears. When Melinda refused to deliver her oral presentation to the class and claimed to be speaking up for her right to be silent, David Petrakis gave her his input of reality. Telling her that “you cant speak up for your right to be silent. That’s letting the bad guys win” contrasting her original project. Although that …show more content…
He doesn't see her as depressed or an outcast, he sees her as any normal person treating her with respect and kindness. David is oblivious to what his comment on Melinda’s paper parallels. Connecting to her being sexually assaulted, David’s comment is instrumental in Melinda’s journey to finding her voice. Standing up for her right to be silent and letting the bad guys win represents Andy’s freedom. Melinda hadn’t told any one about the incident, so keeping in all of her pent up emotion resulted in her attackers home run. Several characters in the Laurie Halse Anderson novel would easily be identified as “bad guys”. Andy Evans is very obviously considered a villain in Melinda’s mind. Due to what he did to her, Andy is the reason for all of her unspeakable words. If not for Andy, Melinda’s life would have remained as it was, carefree, happy and innocent. Mr. Neck is also a character I would consider a “bad guy”, him being egotistical and sexist didn’t help his case either. Right off the bat he was unwelcoming towards Melinda. This only continued throughout the novel, adding to her internal