Preview

Melinda Speak Character Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
505 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Melinda Speak Character Analysis
The author’s message is that thawing out takes time and unless people feel cared or loved for they won’t express feelings. Melinda didn’t feel loved for which made her hurt herself by biting her lip and feeling depressed. Melinda started to thaw out a little to her friends David and Ivy because both of them helped her in some way. Melinda finally thawed out completely to Mr.Freeman because he showed that he cared for her which lead to Melinda telling him everything. Thawing out takes time and people need to feel loved and cared for in order to express their feelings
Melinda didn’t feel loved which made her hurt herself by biting her lip and feeling depressed. The author stated in the book “I bit my lip clear through. It needs stitches” (Anderson 136). Melinda’s situation is so serious that it made Melinda pass out and get stitches on her head. The book stated “David says I hit my head on the edge of the table on my way down. I need stitches” (Anderson 81). Melinda found a closet which she keeps coming back to because she wants to be all alone. In the book it said, “This closet is abandoned-it has no purpose,no name.” Melinda doesn’t have anyone to express her feelings with which leads to her
…show more content…
Mr.Freeman shows that he cares for Melinda by giving her a ride and seeing the good in her. “You’re a good kid. I think you have a lot to say. I’d like to hear it” (Anderson 123). By Mr.Freeman sending Ivy to help Melinda it shows that he cares for the well being of Melinda. “Then he sent me in here to see how you’re doing. “He’s worried about me?” (Anderson 173). Melinda finally thaws out completely and told Mr.Freeman about everything. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you? Me: Let me tell you about” (Anderson 198). Mr.Freeman showed Melinda that he cared and loved her which made Melinda finally tell something everything she’s been going

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    All of the negativity Melinda is experiencing is causing her harm herself in ways that fit a depressed person's profit. “I have entered high school with the wrong hair, the wrong clothes, the wrong attitude. And I don’t have anyone to sit with. I am an Outcast”(Anderson 4). Melinda silence and loneliness made her feel like an outcast because she has no one to sit with. Melinda thinks that no one will help her unless they have something to gain from helping her. In Speak it states, “Heather moves to pat my pom-pom, but pulls her hand back. For a minute she looks like she’ll defend me. No,no, she won’t. It might interfere with her Plan”(Anderson 28). Due to the negativity that Melinda is experiencing it causes her to think that no one will help her. She thinks that she is not worth helping out. Melinda thinks that she is so uncool that she doesn’t think no one will invite her to a party. “This year Rachelle is going to a party thrown by one of the exchange students’ host families…. I knew I wouldn’t get invitation. I would be lucky to get an invitation to my funeral with my reputation”(Anderson 41). Melinda’s negative thought makes her lower her self esteem because she thinks that she's a loser. If Melinda spoke to Rachelle about how she felt maybe things would have been different and she wouldn’t feel this way. The negativity makes Melinda into more of a depressed person.…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Laurie Halse Anderson uses emotions in the passage. She uses emotions by showing that Overwhelmed with the epidemic, responsibilities, death, and many choices. Mattie keeps her head held high and helps as much as she can. Anderson writes, “I ran sobbing to the window, Breathing in the fresh air helped calm my stomach.... I had to help her. She was depending on me (69).” Here, this shows Mattie being faced with a difficult task but…

    • 166 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first way Melinda shows lack of courage was at the beginning of the book, when Heather made her go to the basketball pep rally. Heather introduced her to some new people and after they took a seat somewhere in the middle. Turns out the people behind them remembers Melinda from that party in the summer where she called the cops and ran. "My brother…

    • 460 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    While she does exhibit some obvious signs, such as cutting her wrist with a paperclip, much of Melinda's depression is interior and is not fully understood by anyone yet, including herself. Her lip chewing habit acts similar…

    • 1188 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Melinda, in the end, tells someone and I would think she got justice, but that night scared her for life, she wasn't able to function for so long since she was trapping her emotions inside…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In closing, it is ironic that I see Melinda's story as a metaphor just like the tree she created. A seed of shame was planted inside of Melinda, and just as a tree she silently grew. Processing every painful moment, sprouting slowly. Yet, growing steadily in her own strength without anyone's knowledge. Only to rise from the dirt as tall and bold as the tree she…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    "Speak" Book Report

    • 381 Words
    • 2 Pages

    I rate this book a perfect 10 because of the amount of interest I had while reading it. This book is written for young adult and is great for those who could relate to the same situation as Melinda. This is the kind of book that you would not want to put down once you start reading it. This book also makes a…

    • 381 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    This novel by Susan Shillinglaw, explains the life of a neglected child who got abused, harassed and lied to by his own father. As the novel progresses, Charlie one day escapes the basement in which he has been kept only to be placed in a foster home. Instead of being relieved for being placed in a loving home, he continues to relive the moments of his torment. In order for Charlie to get a fresh start with this loving family, he must accept the challenge of coping with his past but also remember he can not be hurt anymore. The novel tells a depressing reality so individuals know to never let the past go, but instead embrace it since it shapes them today.…

    • 123 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the book “Speak”, Melinda grows from being honest with herself about her emotions. From this, she began to think positively, which changed her mindset and her behaviour. Melinda also was able to seek help from others. After going through these three stages, honesty, positivity, and finding outside support, Melinda was able to refine herself throughout the story and become an improved version of herself. It is impossible for one to change overnight, and starting with small actions of growth can lead to the achievement of a renewed version of…

    • 1437 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Melinda has found her voice over the course of the bok and grows socially because of it. In the beginning Melinda was a social outcast.…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For example, when Mr. Freeman suggests she take a look at Picasso’s work, she is surprised to find that “it confuses [her], while one part of [her] brain jumps up and down screaming “I get it! I get it!” (Anderson 119). Suddenly, she understands and finds herself climbing out of the hole she was in that was in that was keeping her from using her creativity. With her newfound abilities, she “[sketches] a cubist tree with hundreds of skinny rectangles for branches” (Anderson 119). Everything Mr. Freeman has told her about putting some feeling into her work makes sense. In addition, as the end of the year approaches, she decides she doesn’t want to stay silent any longer. On the last day of school, Andy attacks her once again but this time she feels different. She finds the courage and the strength to push him off her and to say no. It might have taken Melinda all year to find a way to speak up but when she finally did she found out it was worth…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Then the mask said, 'I wasn't fair to your father. I shouldn't have married him...Such a ridiculous-waste of years...For us all'" (Carr 142). After constantly avoiding her real feelings, Geneva finally admits the truth of who she loved. She finally lifted a burden that had been haunting and weighing her down for years. Although she had a completely different experience, Saranell endured the exact same feeling. "She gazed up at it, and the aloneness of the dark hills merging with the dark sky began to crush her. Tears ran from the corners of her eyes. The stars swam and dissolved. And in a moment she was sobbing. For her mother. For herself. For the awkward balm-of-Gilead trees...and for the smell of books in her father's library" (Carr 155). All of the experiences and the pain of what she has gone through finally caught up with Saranell. She finally embraced what had happened in her life and accepted what was real. It doesn't matter how long takes, the truth of reality will always shine through.…

    • 535 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To the contrary, she is witty and clever, observing those around her. Other characters accept the rules, systems and structures put in place, but Melinda often pokes fun at them. Melinda is bright and perceptive, and as a result, she sees things for what they truly are. Unlike other students, Melinda notices the contrast of outward appearances and the reality underneath.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    “Writers provide glimpses of other worlds giving readers opportunities to reflect on their own world”. To what extended do you agree.…

    • 1770 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    God, Help Me.

    • 18228 Words
    • 73 Pages

    She saw sitting there, and gave me an inquisitive air. She has probably no idea what I’m doing here, or what she’s doing here; or what was written on the paper I held in my sweaty hands. I motioned for her to sit down beside me, and she did. She gaped at the white sheet document I was holding, and without doubt, I gave it to her. Well, I didn’t know what to say, or where to begin, so I just did what I had in my mind. At first she was shocked, and then I saw a hint of pity; no, more like empathy. There’s a difference between the two. Pity, there’s just sadness all over it. But empathy, it’s the ability to understand the feelings of that person. And that’s what I saw on her face.…

    • 18228 Words
    • 73 Pages
    Powerful Essays