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s261994
s261994
Student
High School - 9th Grade

Can someone tell me what kind of person Melinda Sordino really is in Speak?

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Posted by s261994 on Monday October 5, 2009 at 2:00 PM and tagged with characters, melinda.

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  1. akannan Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    One of the most compelling characteristics in Melinda is the idea that she is a character who seeks to reclaim her voice.  The assault silenced her both literally and figuratively, and this realm of silence is what makes her such a compelling character.  Add the assault to the social assault of being "silenced," and Melinda's character is steeped in the literal and symbolic recreation and reclaiming of voice.  This is fairly compelling in anyone, but given the fact that Melinda is in high school it is even more powerful because adolescence is the time where one hones their voice, helping to give it the firm grounding that will allow it to flourish as an adult.  Her confrontation with her tormentor is a critical moment where this voice is asserted and through it, a sort of social solidarity is formed.  The latter is the desired hope of the former, but Anderson does  a wonderful job of arguing that its assertion should be embraced regardless of consequences.

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    Posted by akannan on Monday October 5, 2009 at 3:19 PM


  2. brandih

    eNotes Editor

    Please see the links below for more answers.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/speak/q-and-a/this-book-speak-what-...
    http://www.enotes.com/speak/q-and-a/what-some-quotes-that...

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    Posted by brandih on Monday October 5, 2009 at 3:21 PM