Speak Literary Essay on Symbols

speak

By Laurie Halse Anderson

There are symbols in everything, they are just hidden and need to be found. In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the use of symbols helps the reader better understand the inner workings of the main character, Melinda Sordino. Laurie uses mirrors, mouths, and trees to help the reader better understand Melinda.

In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the use of the symbol mirrors displays Melinda's frustrations towards herself, such as appearance.

"I watch myself in the mirror across the room, Ugh. My hair is completely hidden under the comforter. (...) Two muddy-circle eyes under black-dash eyebrows, piggy-nose nostrils, and a chewed up horror of my mouth. (...) I get out of beg and take the mirror down. I put it in the back of my closet, facing the wall." [This exert is said by Melinda on page 16-17.] This shows that Melinda absolutely hates the way her looks. She lists all the horrible things about herself, hides her hair. She is frustrated with herself, so she gets up and takes down the mirror and puts it somewhere where she knows, she will never see herself. "The first thing to go is the mirror. It is screwed to the wall, so I cover it with a poster of Maya Angelou that the librarian gave me. She said Ms Angelou is one of the greatest American writers. (...)" This also shows Melinda's struggle with mirrors. She can't take the mirror down, but she still finds a way to hide her appearance from herself. She rather see someone else, just like she would rather be someone else. She put a poster of Maya because she is a strong woman, who was also raped at the age of seven. This poster was to show herself someone who is still strong and has overcome her battles. She wants to be like Maya, not like Melinda. This is the symbolic meaning of mirrors in the novel Speak.

In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the use of the symbol mouth displays Melinda Sordino's inability to communicate and open up. Melinda has a hard time communicating with anyone, she tries but nothing comes out of her mouth. If she ever dies communicate it's only a one word response, not what she is actually thinking. In the section 'Clash of the Titans' Melinda and family have gone to the principle to talking about Melinda's attitude and grades. They think something is wrong with her. "I sip water from a paper cup. If paper were lead crystal, I would open my mouth and take a bite. Crunch, crunch, swallow. They want me to speak" [pg 113] This is Melinda's thoughts in the principals office with her parents and guidance counsellor. This shows that Melinda would much rather take a bit of crystal, or something like glass. She would rather bleed from her mouth, be hurt, she would rather even swallow is. Anything else than to speak her mind. "Mother : 'She's jerking us around to get attention.' Me: [Inside my head] Would you listen? Would you believe me? Fat chance." [pg 114] This excerpt is in the same section as the one stated before. This is showing that she think's she can't speak. No one will believe