Imagine starting a new year of high school, but all of your prior friends are disgusted by what you did in the summer. You don’t know if the reason they hate you is because of the fact that you called the police in the summer or for something else than just the drinking part of the party. You are the only one who knows why you called the police nobody else knows because you choose not to tell them. The reason you do not say anything is because that moment ruined your life, ruined your mind, ruined your voice, ruined your brain, ruined your appearance and everything else that can be ruined got ruined. In the novel Speak,Laurie Halse Anderson takes the reader into the life of Melinda Sordino, a girl lost in a high school world of identity crisis.
The theme in "Speak" is all about identity; Expressing identity and not having one. An example is Heather who has an identity but it is hidden because she is trying to fit in. I understand why her identity is being hidden though because she is at a new school and does not have any friends yet. The only friend that she had was Melinda but that friendship got lost and then somewhat regained. The friendship got lost because Heater tried fitting in with a new group of people and then started having their identity so she also dislikes Melinda to fit in with the rest of her group. When that identity goes wrong she crawls back to Melinda. Around Melinda Heater actually has an identity and she is a preppy girl thhat wants to do everything the right way but also needs help from other people. The help that she needs is pretty much help fitting in but that does not work out. The main theme of "Speak" is to not try and fit in but to be yourself and not to change your ways.
Along with her ideas on identity the author uses symbolism to fully develop what is happening. Her room is a symbol of this because it is a mix of all of her previous friend’s rooms and none of it really shows her personality if she even has one. Next, the couch in her family room that they do not eat off of represents that her family is trying to look perfect. Really they do eat on this couch and they flip it's cushions upside down just like when her parents are fighting the couch cushions are suddenly flipped to the messy side metaphorically. Also, the school mascot changing all the time represents the lost identity as well. They cannot make up their mind just like Melinda who cannot make up her mind about who she wants to be.
Another one of the many symbols in this book I think is one of the most important is her lips. The thing that is happening with her lips is they are all scared and have soars and are chapped like crazy. Melinda is the one who is doing all of this to herself. This is the one kind of pain that she can control. Nobody else is making her lips hurt, it is her and she can control what hurts and when unlike her broken heart. She may not even notice that her heart is broken but I can tell. She does not have friends to talk too or anybody to believe in her, to support her.
The other most important symbol is the closets. The first closet is her own and she goes in there to get away from everyone and everything that’s not good in life. The same thing happens with the closet that she found within the school. In that closet she ditches class just to get away from what the former friends say is wrong with her and them being so mean to her.
Melinda is an interesting character who has a reason not to speak. She has no friends that like her any more as she says she is "Outcast" as in the only outcast in the entire school. I do not believe her that she is the only outcast because in a school you never see one outcast you see a group of outcasts that are kind of friends but really just need one. Also because Melinda has told lies before so why would she be telling the truth? Melinda sees herself differently than everybody else. She does not want to look in the mirror because Andy Evans raped her and she did not tell anybody. Every time she looks in a mirror it reminds her of this and she has many flashbacks throughout the story. Melinda has one friend who is the new girl. She gets really mad at Melinda because Melinda is always depressed and doesn't want to even be alive. Melinda wants to be popular and that is why she went to the party and drank and then did not know what Andy Evans was doing but only knew that she was attracted to him and wanted to have a older boyfriend to start the year. Also, Melinda says that judging people is mean and wrong but really she always judges people because she gives them nicknames like Hair women and more. Melinda also does not like to speak up after the incident happened and now her parents are finding trouble with this. When she finally decides to speak of it she tells the wrong person at the wrong time and she doesn’t say it she writes it. Melinda has many problems so far in this story.
Next, the boy that she calls IT is Andy Evans. Disgusting minded, abrupt, ludicrous rapist describe Andy Evans although he swears he did not rape anyone and that she wanted it as well although she really didn't. Andy Evan's does not have a good reputation and I can see why especially near the very end of the book. He is only dating younger girls because they are "Freshmeat" referring to what he called Melinda. Some people call Freshman that because they are new to high school and therefore very gullible which easily backfires if you look innocent like Melinda. Andy is going after the young girls because he cannot get one from his own grade and he just wants to do crap to them. Also, Rachel also called Rachelle dated him because he is older and tall and handsome and all the young girls want him besides the one who know his true identity. In the end there are many other characters but Andy Evans is by far the most hebetudinous character in a book I have read yet and he got me really aggravated in this book from beginning to end.
Now think about it this way as if you or a close friend was in the same situation as Melinda. Getting things done to her within her first year of high school. Would you tell anyone? Would you want to know if this happened to a friend? Personally I would've told the police and had him arrested so he couldn't come close to doing the same thing again. Despite the characters I liked the symbolism as well as the theme of identity in the book "Speak."
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sometimes.....
Sometimes I cry because I am happy. Sometimes I laugh because I am sad. Sometimes I try to hard to do the easiest things. Sometimes I say stupid things but do not mean them. Sometimes I complement people because I care. Sometimes I eat a lot because I don't care what people think. Sometimes I love to regain what I have lost.
Monday, October 25, 2010
What is Love?
What is love? Is love when you think about the simplest thing they said to you over and over? Or is love when you read a text 50 times over and over waiting for one back? Is love when you think about them and don’t know what you would change about them? Is love when you think about life without them and you have nothing in your mind because your world would fall apart? Is love when you think about somebody all day long and don’t know why you are thinking of them? Love is every amazing feeling felt in the heart and through the mind. You cannot control love, you can experience it and not even know. Love is uncontrollable and happens to everybody; It just depends if you embrace it or ignore it. Love is life.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Patriotism
I think that Patriotism is still essential to the American tradition because it is still very important. Many people have lost their lives for us because they decided it was their duty. So why don’t we make it our duty to respect them, honor them, even send a letter just saying how proud of them we are and how happy we are that we have people fighting for our freedom. They did not have to do this for us but they did; we do not have to have Patriotism but we should. It is a choice and depends on who you are to make your own decision but for me I have Patriotism which is honor of our country and those who fight or fought to get it to where it is today. Now because of these important people we have freedom. We have all types of freedom including freedom of speech, we have freedom to go to school, and get jobs. Although you may say school; I hate school some people cannot go to school. It is a privilege that these open hearted people fought for and won us; they are fighting for it now to keep opportunities in America, the least we could do is have some pride and honor them. It is very sad that Patriotism is decreasing in the United States today but who can help it? Everybody can. All you have to do is send them a card, say hi to someone who has fought, or even just say the pledge every morning and actually mean it; we usually just go through mumble the words, but do you really know what you’re saying? Do you really believe in what you are mumbling? Obviously Patriotism is important to me, but you can decide for yourself if it is important to you. It is a life choice if you want to have Patriotism or not, what is yours?
Friday, October 8, 2010
Souvenirs of our Past
Imagine almost getting married and days before the wedding you get told a huge secret, your husband has a body in his house. Fragile souvenirs are often pointless to other people, like the body in Henry’s House. I remember when I was little and I got something from one of my grandparents I would keep it and hide it so nobody else would get it. Although Henry does not care who sees it, he hides it, and does not want to get rid of it just like I never wanted to get rid of anything. Although a body is much different than the stuff I used to hold on to it is still almost the same. Because somebody important gives it to you or it is an important person’s body, then you want it as a souvenir which are much more important to you than anyone else.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Ambience of the Café
Imagine being in a lonely world, where you have nobody and nothing to live for. You tried to kill yourself because you have nobody to love you anymore. But there was somebody there to save you. She is one of the only people who care enough to save you. Almost everybody else wishes you would've died. The young waiter is mean to you and does not respect you and would in no way save you. In "A Well Lighted Place" there are certain people that would help you but others that would not. There is also a depressed old man that relates to the older waiter but not the younger waiter. The old man had opportunities to be happy, yet none could truly save him.
In this story there are two main types of people, ones that would help you and ones who would not. First we will start with the people who would help which include the old waiter because he is so sweet and doesn't want to see anyone sad. Also, although it does not mention the old man’s niece much she seems like she loves him and wants to help but at the same time doesn't. There is something eerie about her being helpful yet not. It says “His niece looks after him, she cut him down.” But it still doesn’t seem like she cares much because it seems like she does not think he should be her responsibility and she doesn’t want much to do with him. Lastly, we have the young waiter who I believe could be a nice person if he tried. Because he does not try, I do not think that the waiter would help anybody because he mainly only cares about himself. The old man I believe would be like the old waiter if he could but he is old and is kind of losing it mentally. But there are other similarities as well as differences between the old man and waiter.
There are many arguments about the old man and old waiter relating, and in my opinion I think that they have many similarities as well as differences. To begin, they are both old and wifeless. I think that them not having wives just makes them lonely. Also, they are alike because they are both wise and although it may not seem but they do both have dignity. You know this because it says that “… walking unsteadily but with dignity.” As well as similarities they have few differences. Just one of their main differences is their different personalities and realities including the old man getting drunken everyday and the old waiter’s sensitivity are nothing alike. Despite the old men the young waiter is in this story and he is the fool who believes that money equals happiness.
If you believe that money creates happiness then you are absolutely incorrect. In this story the old man has money but he is lonely and kind of crazy in ways as well. Although it doesn't ever say he is unhappy the signs point to that. The old man had many opportunities to become happy but just did not. The old man was really the only one that had good ways that should’ve worked but he never became happy in the end. Whenever you are happy and not lonely do you go to a café to drink every night? It would be different if it was only once in a while but every night makes people think that he is an old, lonely, depressed man that just needs a wife. On the other hand the young waiter believes that money creates happiness, even though he sees how unhappy the lonely man is and also he doesn’t have that much money and that is why he thinks he is not happy.
In the end the depressed, old, dignified man gets saved and goes back to his normalcies. The old waiter became a better person in this story I think because in the end he did not want to kick the old man out and he just wanted to be even friendlier because he does relate to the loneliness and not having people there for him. The daughter and the young waiter though learned nothing and are still not very great people. The young waiter also still thinks the old man should be happy because he has money.
In this story there are two main types of people, ones that would help you and ones who would not. First we will start with the people who would help which include the old waiter because he is so sweet and doesn't want to see anyone sad. Also, although it does not mention the old man’s niece much she seems like she loves him and wants to help but at the same time doesn't. There is something eerie about her being helpful yet not. It says “His niece looks after him, she cut him down.” But it still doesn’t seem like she cares much because it seems like she does not think he should be her responsibility and she doesn’t want much to do with him. Lastly, we have the young waiter who I believe could be a nice person if he tried. Because he does not try, I do not think that the waiter would help anybody because he mainly only cares about himself. The old man I believe would be like the old waiter if he could but he is old and is kind of losing it mentally. But there are other similarities as well as differences between the old man and waiter.
There are many arguments about the old man and old waiter relating, and in my opinion I think that they have many similarities as well as differences. To begin, they are both old and wifeless. I think that them not having wives just makes them lonely. Also, they are alike because they are both wise and although it may not seem but they do both have dignity. You know this because it says that “… walking unsteadily but with dignity.” As well as similarities they have few differences. Just one of their main differences is their different personalities and realities including the old man getting drunken everyday and the old waiter’s sensitivity are nothing alike. Despite the old men the young waiter is in this story and he is the fool who believes that money equals happiness.
If you believe that money creates happiness then you are absolutely incorrect. In this story the old man has money but he is lonely and kind of crazy in ways as well. Although it doesn't ever say he is unhappy the signs point to that. The old man had many opportunities to become happy but just did not. The old man was really the only one that had good ways that should’ve worked but he never became happy in the end. Whenever you are happy and not lonely do you go to a café to drink every night? It would be different if it was only once in a while but every night makes people think that he is an old, lonely, depressed man that just needs a wife. On the other hand the young waiter believes that money creates happiness, even though he sees how unhappy the lonely man is and also he doesn’t have that much money and that is why he thinks he is not happy.
In the end the depressed, old, dignified man gets saved and goes back to his normalcies. The old waiter became a better person in this story I think because in the end he did not want to kick the old man out and he just wanted to be even friendlier because he does relate to the loneliness and not having people there for him. The daughter and the young waiter though learned nothing and are still not very great people. The young waiter also still thinks the old man should be happy because he has money.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
All Those Stories
Prologue-
As I was walking I felt a light breeze, and instinctively turned around as fast as I could, but it was to late. The stranger was holding my friend hugging her. I didn't believe him when he said that they knew each other because I have never met him and he was holding her like he was going to kidnap her. I asked Marissa if she knew him and she slowly nodded her head yes. Finally, the boy let her go and later that night she tells me her story, so this is Marissa's Story.
Marissa's story
Today was the first time I have seen since I was seven years old. He was my best friend when I was little until that one night. We were only 12 years old, just hanging out as always when suddenly he turned me around and there he was standing there glaring at me. He thought that I have told his secret, but I really didn't! He thought I have told the person he should've told in the first place, Abigail. Abigail was his step mother. Somebody killed his real mother. Yes, it was him. He got really mad at her and he knew just where his father had hidden the gun. When his father came home the gun was loaded back in the correct place and there was a note on the counter that said something along the lines of Mom, I will be home around 10 sorry but you are in the shower right now and I have to go to baseball then to Ryan's after. Love you! He told me the night that they started to investigate. I figured now since we are now 21 it wouldn't matter. I didn't tell but I gave it away one night, I didn't mean to it was just stuck in my head I couldn't hold it in any longer. All I said was I know who did it and in an instant Abigail knew. She knew it was her stepson who then told her husband. Now when I saw him there it just brought back terrible memories. He then told me what he thought so that night he told me his story; Max's story.
Max's Story
When I saw Marissa I knew there was something special about her so at first we were just friends. She told me one day that she hated my mom and I thought nothing of. She said I shouldn't have to go through all the abuse that I go through. I still just shook it off and dealt with it. Then there was that one night. Yes, I killed her, I had thoughts of Marissa going through my head, you don't need this, so I told her this was the last chance for her to stop abusing me. She pulled out a knife and it scared me really bad because I knew what she was gonna do. So I went over and shot her. It went into her foot for a reason I didn’t want to kill her. Next thing she went up to take a shower and I had to go to baseball and then to Ryan's house so I wrote her a note saying had to go to baseball then to Ryan's be back round ten. When I got home my father was crying looking over my mother. She got shot twice he said and I looked there was the shot that was mine in her foot and then another on her temple. That night I kept getting emails saying, I know you did it. Why would you do that? They were all from some user name I have never seen that was
latergator()<3. I had no idea what that meant so I ignored those to and when I couldn't take them anymore and I started believing them I told Marissa figuring she wouldn't tell nobody. Seeing her on this day was great because she told! I really wanted to see her but at the same time I was really upset she told. I loved her though but then somebody came by and said hey look the killer! I got really upset and let her go and left right then. I knew she told everybody! The next day I got emails again saying, I told everyone… hate me? I replied and asked who the heck kept doing this to him and finally the response was Abigail. I asked how she found out and she said not to worry it wasn't him and then said goodbye forever. I ran next door to her house when I got back. As I walked in there she was laying on the floor dead. I never had time to tell Marissa my whole story but that is what happened. It was Abigail. I knew it!
As I was walking I felt a light breeze, and instinctively turned around as fast as I could, but it was to late. The stranger was holding my friend hugging her. I didn't believe him when he said that they knew each other because I have never met him and he was holding her like he was going to kidnap her. I asked Marissa if she knew him and she slowly nodded her head yes. Finally, the boy let her go and later that night she tells me her story, so this is Marissa's Story.
Marissa's story
Today was the first time I have seen since I was seven years old. He was my best friend when I was little until that one night. We were only 12 years old, just hanging out as always when suddenly he turned me around and there he was standing there glaring at me. He thought that I have told his secret, but I really didn't! He thought I have told the person he should've told in the first place, Abigail. Abigail was his step mother. Somebody killed his real mother. Yes, it was him. He got really mad at her and he knew just where his father had hidden the gun. When his father came home the gun was loaded back in the correct place and there was a note on the counter that said something along the lines of Mom, I will be home around 10 sorry but you are in the shower right now and I have to go to baseball then to Ryan's after. Love you! He told me the night that they started to investigate. I figured now since we are now 21 it wouldn't matter. I didn't tell but I gave it away one night, I didn't mean to it was just stuck in my head I couldn't hold it in any longer. All I said was I know who did it and in an instant Abigail knew. She knew it was her stepson who then told her husband. Now when I saw him there it just brought back terrible memories. He then told me what he thought so that night he told me his story; Max's story.
Max's Story
When I saw Marissa I knew there was something special about her so at first we were just friends. She told me one day that she hated my mom and I thought nothing of. She said I shouldn't have to go through all the abuse that I go through. I still just shook it off and dealt with it. Then there was that one night. Yes, I killed her, I had thoughts of Marissa going through my head, you don't need this, so I told her this was the last chance for her to stop abusing me. She pulled out a knife and it scared me really bad because I knew what she was gonna do. So I went over and shot her. It went into her foot for a reason I didn’t want to kill her. Next thing she went up to take a shower and I had to go to baseball and then to Ryan's house so I wrote her a note saying had to go to baseball then to Ryan's be back round ten. When I got home my father was crying looking over my mother. She got shot twice he said and I looked there was the shot that was mine in her foot and then another on her temple. That night I kept getting emails saying, I know you did it. Why would you do that? They were all from some user name I have never seen that was
latergator()<3. I had no idea what that meant so I ignored those to and when I couldn't take them anymore and I started believing them I told Marissa figuring she wouldn't tell nobody. Seeing her on this day was great because she told! I really wanted to see her but at the same time I was really upset she told. I loved her though but then somebody came by and said hey look the killer! I got really upset and let her go and left right then. I knew she told everybody! The next day I got emails again saying, I told everyone… hate me? I replied and asked who the heck kept doing this to him and finally the response was Abigail. I asked how she found out and she said not to worry it wasn't him and then said goodbye forever. I ran next door to her house when I got back. As I walked in there she was laying on the floor dead. I never had time to tell Marissa my whole story but that is what happened. It was Abigail. I knew it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)