Speak

Speak
Raymond J.
L.A.

Most teenagers are pressured into things that could cost them their lives. Or turn you into a person you never wanted to be. Kids across America have been pressured into drinking, smoking, and other things of the nature. In the book SPEAK, Melinda was pressured; she didn’t have a choice. She had nothing. Melinda’s story in this comedy is emphasized through the author’s use of symbols.
This novel is realistic and the main character is in control, which makes it a comedy. It is realistic because she has a family, had some friends, and goes to school like every other person. It’s also a comedy because there’s a mild conflict, and the conflict gets realized. Some of the conflicts are that her old friends will not talk to her. And it’s hard for her to make friends. And she has trouble speaking to people in public.
Relating to that, the main symbols in this story are the mirror and the tree. The mirror represents what she was, and who she is now. The past and the future. When she looked in the mirror, it showed a person who she wasn’t. Someone who she didn’t want to be. She thought she was looking in the eyes of another human being. The tree represents the growth and death of Melinda. The tree grows and breaks down, just like Melinda. Parts of her were alive, but also, parts of her were dead.
As you can see, the mode of literature and the symbols in this story are very important. They described how her life was, and how she felt. In this story, they are trying to say that once something bad happens, soon it will get better. Just like the tree. Dying…and then heal.