Verbal Expression In Speak

In the novel, Speak the author uses the protagonist, Melinda, to teach the reader the importance of verbal expression. Melinda refuses to speak about an event that occurred in her life; therefore others cannot show her empathy toward her. Melinda’s lack of speaking lead to her being judged and bullied by her friends. Melinda’s silence slowly erodes her self esteem and leads to depressive behavior. Melinda’s lack of verbal communication conveys its merit. Melinda refuses to speak about an event that occurred in her life; therefore others around her cannot show her empathy toward her. In Speak, Melinda doesn’t express her feeling to her old friends. In Speak it states, “I don’t want to be cool. I want to grab her by the neck and shake her and
Due to Melinda’s lack of verbal communication with her classmates call her names. In Speak it states,“ ‘I can’t believe you did that. Asshole’”(Anderson 28). This girl called Melinda a mean word because she wouldn’t explain what occurred in a certain event. Melinda also gets physically hurt while being bullied by her fellow peers. In Speak it states, “The girl behind me jam her knee into my back”(Anderson 29). These so called friends of hers stopped talking to her. In the text it states, “Rachel and every other I’ve known for nine years continue to ignore me”(Anderson 14). Melinda gets judged and bullied by her
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. The author teaches the value of verbal expression