The Character Development of Melinda Sordino in Speak Essay Example

Laurie Halse Anderson, the author of Speak, was sexually assaulted at the age of 13 years old (Feldman Time). Anderson uses Speak to get the message of speaking up in all situations. Another message throughout the books is that there have to be changes to start recovering and healing from the problems. Melinda’s changes are seen in her attitude, willingness to speak up, and symbolism of the trees.

Melinda’s attitude differs from the beginning of the book to the end due to the lessons she learns from the most impactful people in her life. Melinda’s friendship with Heather shows their disagreements in friendship. Heather wants to be herself or somebody and Melinda is “nobody” (Anderson 34). Heather wants to join clubs, to get involved, were as Melinda is not interested in clubs and is “the most depressed person I’ve[Heather] ever met” (Anderson 105). Melinda’s “mop[y]” attitude changes, which shows that she cares (Anderson 34). On page 168, Melinda’s interest in the care of her house is outlined when she rakes leaves and asks her dad to “buy some [flower] seeds” (Anderson). The intuitive shown even sparks her dad into helping with the tree in their yard. Melinda’s development of caring and changing herself for the better shows that she is willing to stand up for herself.

From being the quiet, isolated girl, and to speaking up against Andy Evans, Melinda shows her urge to be heard. David pushes her to find her voice, especially after the Mr. Neck issue. David tells Melinda that she is going to “make a difference unless you speak up”(Anderson 159). Melinda takes his message to heart because she is trying to protect Rachel from Andy. She starts finding her voice by rejecting people that ask her for help; Heather asked her for help decorating for prom, and Melinda said: “No” (Anderson 179). Normally Melinda would help Heather even if she hated the activity. Rachel is finally confronted by Melinda in the bathroom right before prom. Melinda found her voice to protect a friend that rejected her even though she put herself in danger. The development of Melinda’s change in attitude is shown throughout the book by the trees and her speaking up to protect friends.

The trees throughout the book symbolize the growth of Melinda. The trees never really looked like trees in the beginning; she carves them out of linoleum blocks over and over again. Over Thanksgiving break her mood changes, the break doesn’t go well, which gives new inspiration for the project, “I see a girl in the remains of a holiday gone bad-with her fleshed picked off day after day as the caress dries out. The knife and fork are obviously middle-class sensibilities. The palm tree is a nice touch. A broken dream, perhaps?...” (Anderson 64).  Mr. Freeman can see the emotions of Melinda through her work even if it’s junk thrown together. A step toward growth is with the leaves because Melinda gets help from Ivy, which sparks the renewing of their friendship. “ He’s not chopping it down. He’s saving it. Those branches were long dead from disease. All plants are like that. By cutting off the damage, you make it possible for the tree to grow again. You watch-by the end of the summer, this tree will be the strongest on the block,” Melinda’s dad in this scene forces Melinda to see that she may be damaged but she has a chance to grow and become herself again, all she has to do is remove the damage. Melinda does remove the damage by standing up for herself. The growth from that is the final project. Melinda sketches the tree with some dead, damaged, and healthy limbs; Mr. Freeman gives her an A because he knows that the tree represents herself.  The tree project helped Melinda “find her soul” (Anderson 118).

The symbolism of the tree, speaking up, and attitude all help form the development of Melinda. All Melinda needed was a chance to reform, heal, and overcome the rape. Overcoming from situations is a long path but talking and informing others about those types of situations can help the healing process begin. Life is a hard, long, and eventful road but that doesn’t mean to stop in the middle.