Speak

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1. 
   bmadnick Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   The title is significant in several ways. Melinda's inability to speak reflects her inability to tell anyone about her rape. It is such a horrific event that Melinda can't find the words to express what happened, much less how she feels about it. She somehow, as many rape victims do, blames herself in thinking she could have stopped it from happening.

   The speech used by the characters in the book also show how people talk at each other rather than to each other. When the other students blame Melinda for calling the police, their speech is used to condemn her behavior and attitude. Even her parents, especially her mother, don't use speech as a tool for communication.

   I think the title is also suggestive that there are other forms of communication besides talking that people miss. Melinda begins communicating through her art.

   Melinda's ability to speak is related to her psychological well-being, suggesting that speech is so important to expressing our emotions. When we can't express them, we withdraw into ourselves. Right after the rape, Melinda begins her decline in her speech. The more she struggles by herself to come to terms with the rape, the less she's able to say. Melinda's urge to speak surfaces when she sees she has to help Rachel to prevent Andy from raping her as well. When she's able to tell about the rape, the more she's able to speak. Being able to share it with others brings back her speech and will lead to her healing.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/speak

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   • Flag as inappropriate

   Posted by bmadnick on Monday June 25, 2007 at 8:52 PM
   
   

2. 
   txrisquediva Teacher
   High School - 10th Grade

   The title Speaks reveals the irony toward the end of story.  In most of novel, she can't speak, even through her artwork.  Others in the book "avoid"  speaking to each other; they separate in groups according to how they "speak".  At the end, she does speak, prompting others to Speak of IT's Andy's) horrific nature.

   Throughout the story adults speakto reveal their nature as it relates to "The 10 Lies..." Irony revealed is those who are supposed to shape the students, don't shape at all, but force (ie Mr. Neck)

   It is ironic that the only one who speaks to her is the new girl; her other friends don't speak, but choose to avoid her. Speaking their opinion of what she did by Not speaking.

   She who is abandoned, finds a place that is abandoned, ironically, the janitor's closet.

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   Posted by txrisquediva on Thursday July 12, 2007 at 6:06 PM