The novel Speak, written by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrates the physical and mental pain associated with trauma. In the book, a young girl named Melinda is raped by a boy from her school, which seriously affects her mental state. The heroine transitioned from a cheerful soul into a depressed and non-communicating individual. Therefore, Anderson’s novel’s major theme is silence, which stems from trauma and how the heroine chooses her ways of expressing her emotions.
In the beginning, the readers are exposed to the horrifying experience of Melinda being raped by Andy Evans. This was a pivotal moment for the girl, leading her to not only remain silent regarding her trauma but communicate less in general. This was her response to the abuse she encountered (Anggriani & Siregar, 2021). The character emphasizes how, while life keeps going on and all other students continue their regular activities, she wants to scream about her pain. Melinda says, “I put my head in my hands and scream to let out the animal noise and some of that night” (Halse Anderson, 2011, p.28). However, Melinda emphasizes that no one hears hers, and she feels alone.
Mere communication with the people close to her seems difficult, regardless of these people being her teachers, friends, or parents. Melinda claims that “it is getting harder to talk,” and she experiences physical and emotional strain (Halse Anderson, 2011, p.113). Here, one can see to what extent her trauma broke her and how with each day, she becomes more broken (Satria et al., 2022). It is not only that, but the PTSD she has experienced since she confessed: “I open my mouth to breathe, to scream, and his hand covers it” (Halse Anderson, 2011, p.135). Therefore, this theme is important because it shows how anyone can feel alone and how trauma can harm one’s feeling of security and cause pain.
Hence, the main themes of Anderson’s book are the heroine’s methods of communicating her feelings, and the stillness brought on by tragedy. The readers are first introduced to Melinda’s horrific experience of being raped by Andy Evans. The character highlights how she wishes she could scream in pain. Even simply communicating with those close to her seems impossible. The little girl feels alone and has no idea how to deal with her anguish or let it go.
References
Anggriani, D., & Siregar, M. A. (2021). Impact of sexual abuse in Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel Speak. Journal of Language, 3(1), 28-34. Web.
Halse Anderson, L. (2011). Speak. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Satria, R. P., Najma, E., & Seswita, S. (2022). The symbols of isolation in Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak. Vivid: Journal of Language and Literature, 11(1), 59-64. Web.