Speak

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Nate Reichter

In Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel Speak a great deal of symbolism is used to give insight to the characters feelings, thoughts and emotions.  The symbol that shadows the characters feelings, thoughts, and emotions the best is the tree.  The tree is used as a symbol to show Melinda’s growth as a person.  When Melinda takes the slip of paper out of the globe and realizes she has to draw trees for an entire semester, she tries to exchange it for another.  Mr. Freeman will not allow her to exchange the tree project for another, he tells Melinda she has chosen her destiny and cannot change projects.  Initially Melinda struggles to create trees and becomes upset during the process, which implies she struggles with her feelings and emotions, as well as the emergence of her secret of being raped.  Originally Melinda’s drawings showed a great deal of pain, for instance one of Melinda’s first drawings was a tree being struck by lightning. Here the tree represents Melinda as a person.  She sees herself as insignificant and lacks a purpose in life; Melinda is dealing with a great pain.  

Also we are able to see another side of Melinda after her creation of a perfect tree; this displeases Mr. Freeman because the tree is too perfect.  This flawless tree signifies Melinda’s former view of herself, and the negative view she currently has on her previous social group.  While she initially struggles to produce drawings, once Melinda is able to let go of her painful secret she is able to create magnificent artwork.  Melinda is able to take her pain and transform it into beautiful artwork.  Melinda’s connection to trees is also evident when she returns home to find men cutting branches down from the tree in her front lawn.  She is certain the men are killing the tree, but her father informs her that the tree is simply sick and by cutting off the diseased and damaged branches will ultimately allow the tree to grow again.  This incident with the tree implies Melinda will overcome her past and surmount her pain.  All though she will never forget the incident that scared her, she realizes she can move on and start to live again, much like a tree would. 

Overall, the trees significance is shown throughout the story.  In the beginning of the novel the tree looks bare and dead much like Melinda is portrayed.  Towards the end of the novel the tree’s sick branches are being cut off symbolizing Melinda’s ability to let go of her past.  At the end of the novel, the tree symbolizes Melinda’s start of a new life and a bright future ahead.