The Importance Of Art In Anderson's Speak

Where in the World is Melinda? Art can be a gateway for people to find themselves. Art is something that can be made into something only the person who painted it or made it truly understands. However, it can impact someone else in a different way, as they see it differently. Art can be read as how a person feels or sees the world. People see things differently every day. People go through stages throughout their life time where they will look for something to fulfill them while in that stage. Some stages are sad, some happy, some confused and sometimes even dead but they most always are able to heal and find their true selves. In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda finds herself through her art. As a freshman in high school …show more content…
Well Melinda has as well. Melinda has gone through something not everyone goes through, but finds a way to get over that trauma through a class she has in high school. In her art class she is able to express herself beyond the spoken word. This is the arena where a trusted adult helps Melinda overcome one of the most challenging stages of her life. In the beginning of the novel she is confused. Mr. Freeman wants her to draw a tree, and express herself through her art. “This is where you can find your soul, if you dare. Where you can touch that part of you that you’ve never dared look at before. Do not come here and ask me to show you how to draw a face. Ask me to help you find the wind.” (Anderson 14) Mr. Freeman wants Melinda to find herself and express her feelings. Her first sculpture was a tree made out of turkey bones. It tells a story that she is confused but there still is life inside with a small palm tree …show more content…
Everything that happened to her she is able to come to peace with. She knows now she is not the only one Andy has raped. Melinda is able to express herself and let others know of this horrific event that had happened to her. “IT happened. There is no avoiding it, no forgetting. No running away, or flying, or burying, or hiding. Andy Evans raped me in August when I was drunk and too young to know what was happening. It wasn’t my fault. He hurt me. It wasn’t my fault. And I’m not going to let it kill me. I can grow. I look at my homely sketch. It doesn’t need anything. Even through the river in my eyes I can see that. It isn’t perfect and that makes it just right.” (Anderson #) She creates a beautiful painting of birds and trees and to her it is just right. Some may see it as not complete, but to her the imperfect is