The Journey of Positive Growth Experiencing a traumatic event can be emotionally challenging; however, many people have shown significant psychological growth and positive psychological change as a result. Speak illustrates the story of a girl who grows stronger as she overcomes her traumatic life event. It demonstrates that by facing her trauma she is able to deal with difficult memories and emotions. As she comes to the realization that she is not responsible for her victimization, she is able to heal and recover. At first, she is negatively affected, but as she grows, she finds the courage to speak up for herself. In Speak written by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda’s personal growth is positively impacted by overcoming her depression, isolation, …show more content…
This shows the depths of her depression; she is frustrated, overwhelmed, and helpless, yet, although she is discouraged, she does not give up. Melinda's struggle to create an art piece portrays her struggle to express her emotions. Mr. Freeman encourages Melinda to make a tree with flaws - to be the tree. Melinda feels safe and accepted in the art room, as it is symbolical of warmth and creativity; trees and sunlight are positive symbols in her life. An example of how Melinda overcomes her depression is when she challenges herself to do something different. She decides to rake the leaves from her front yard, and she asks her father to buy her some seeds so that she can do some gardening. This is symbolic of her close connection to nature and plants. Just like the tree and the plants, she imagines herself beginning to grow again. Furthermore, Melinda learns how to challenge her negative thoughts as she fights against her depression. At first, psychologically, Melinda is conflicted: “Do they choose to be so dense? Were they born that way? I have no friends. I have nothing. I say nothing. I am nothing” (116). The authority figures in Melinda’s life are oblivious to her trauma and depression; they are unaware of her mental …show more content…
Initially Melinda is unable to communicate; however, as she strengthens her social connections with others, she is able to accept her feelings of loneliness. She believes, “It is easier not to say anything [...] Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say” (9). In terms of Melinda’s home life, her parents have a bad relationship with each other, and in return, Melinda goes to her room to isolate herself; she feels more comfortable in her closet. Melinda’s parents try to communicate with her in the worst ways possible; therefore, she is completely disconnected with them. Melinda thinks that she may never grow up because she is so traumatized. She remembers her childhood memories, yet she is unable to see her own future because feels trapped and damaged. However, as she is able to come to terms with what happened to her, she can finally accept that she is beginning to grow again, and can look forward to her future. As Melinda begins to heal, so does her family. For once in the novel, her parents do not fight and they eat dinner with each other. As a developing artist, she has a lack of ambition and believes that she will never be as talented or as successful as Mr. Freeman. Through her artwork, he is aware of the negative emotions she is expressing. He informs her that she can talk to him when she needs to. Mr. Freeman is one of the only teachers who can understand Melinda. In addition,
Speaking up and not isolating yourself can help oneself overcome problems in life that can cause difficulties. Bottling up feelings that should have been talked through can help oneself be more confident. For instance, in the beginning of the book, Melinda is running out of the lunch room after
When faced with a traumatic experience, one’s true nature reveals itself. The trauma forces those suffering from it to cope. How one copes is directly linked to their personality. Some will push everything away, while others will hold whatever they can close. Both of these coping mechanisms can be observed in the two short stories “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter and “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner. In “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” and “A Rose for Emily,” the two protagonists prominent characteristics distinctly affect the way the protagonists copes when faced with trauma and the outcome of the short stories endings. To begin, Granny Weatherall is a prideful control freak. While, in contrast, Miss Emily is delusional and stubborn.
The dynamic character, Melinda, is shown to be quite an introverted person even though she has a lot thoughts and opinions. The book “Speak” practically screams out all of Melindas’ logic, the only difference is that she chooses to hold it all in and does not say them out loud. While the dynamic character cleans her refurbished closet, a sudden attack caught her off guard where she thought her “head wasn’t screwed on straight. [She wants] to leave, transfer, warp [herself] to another galaxy... There is a beast in [her] gut, [she] can hear it scraping away
...lth declined. Unlike Prynne, Melinda is not indifferent to her fellow companion; instead, she is silent with thoughts and opinions of her companions. Anderson used Melinda’s reactions to the dejection and how deceit, despair, and dejection coincide to allow the readers feel as though Melinda was sitting next to them in class or walking pass them in the store.
The short story Eleven by Sandra Cisneros, focuses around the main character Rachel as an insecure developing girl who lacks the experience to handle everyday encounters. Rachel, an eleven year old girl truly encapsulates the thoughts that are present within an adolescent. The lack of confidence in herself, excessive fear of being judged, and ideas of growing up are ideals that are relevant within each and every one of us. The reader is able to relate to Rachel because her feelings and experiences that are described by the author are similar to what most people have been through and are currently experiencing. The characterization of Rachel is expressed through the author’s usage of point of view, imagery, and repetition.
Ever since the party, Melinda rarely talked to anybody, including her parents. Nevertheless, I noticed that during the second semester of the year she talked considerably more. “All right, but you said we had to put emotion into our art. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel.”(p122). This quote is from the third marking period when Melinda was talking to her art teacher Mr.Freeman. I believe that she wouldn’t have said anything had it been earlier in the year. “Stinks. It was a mistake to sign up for art. I just couldn’t see myself taking wood shop.”(p.146). This quote is another example of Melinda talking, this time to Ivy in the mall. I think these quotes prove that Melinda starts talking more as the year progresses.
The plot of the book, Speak is that Melinda Sordino, a freshman at Merryweather High went to an end of the summer party with some of her friends. Things take a turn for the worst when a senior named Andy Evans sexually assaults her at the party without her friends knowing about it. Melinda is frightened, afraid, and does not know what to do so she calls 911 busting the party, and causing her friends and everyone at that school to hate her, even if they don’t know her.
“Picking up the pieces of their shattered lives was very, very difficult, but most survivors found a way to begin again.” Once again, Helen was faced with the struggle of living life day-to-day, trying not to continue feeling the pain of her past.
Adversity affects the lives of many individuals. Through facing adversity people tend to show their true selves. In the novel “Speak” by Laurie Halse-Anderson, the main character Melinda, faces a few different types of adversity. One form of adversity that she faces is that she was sexually assaulted. Another type of adversity that Melinda goes through in this novel is that she loses all her friends and starts to lose her family as well. Throughout my life, I have faced many different types of adversity, one major thing that I have dealt with in my life is depression. Those who face adversity in their life can choose if they want to face it or to ignore it, and the outcome will prove what they chose to do.
Allison has had a bitter past full of moments which have scarred her personality. She uses these and writes about the world that few are willing to admit exists. Many find refuge behind their gregarious nature and take comfort in religion or other bodies. However, that does not change the facts of what the world is and how it got there. Allison exposes her audience to these facts, and in the process, she shares her own view.
A major theme in Markus Zusak’s novel I am The Messenger is personal growth. At the beginning of the novel, Ed Kennedy does not seem like your everyday character in a novel. He does not seem like the person to amount to anything. Ed is a nineteen-year-old cab driver (underage) who loves playing cards with his three best friends, Marv, Ritchie, and Audrey, whom he has been hopelessly in love with for a long time, with little success. Because of the place, Ed is currently in, he feels that his life does not mean anything.
In the book Speak, the main character, Melinda has had a major problem in her life. Melinda found closure to her problems by doing ordinary and unordinary things that helped her process what really happened. Some of the things Melinda used to find closure for her traumatic experience is listening to talk shows, trying to help her ex-best friend from making the same mistake, and by standing up to the source of her problems.
Everyone has had that one moment, or maybe a couple. The moment when their life changes forever, the moments when they know they will never be the same person they were yesterday. These moments are turning points that play a large role in a person’s identity.
She continues in this sequel to talk about the abuse she faced and the dysfunction that surrounded her life as a child and as a teen, and the ‘empty space’ in which she lived in as a result. She talks about the multiple personalities she was exhibiting, the rebellious “Willie” and the kind “Carol”; as well as hearing noises and her sensory problems. In this book, the author puts more emphasis on the “consciousness” and “awareness” and how important that was for her therapeutic process. She could not just be on “auto-pilot” and act normal; the road to recovery was filled with self-awareness and the need to process all the pieces of the puzzle—often with the guidance and assistance of her therapist. She had a need to analyze the abstract concept of emotions as well as feelings and thoughts. Connecting with others who go through what she did was also integral to her
There once was a girl who lived a happy life until the age of thirteen. Everything changed that day because that 's when her mother started emotionally, mentally, and verbally abusing her. The girl wanted nothing more than to be loved by her mother but that was not the case. Her mother thought that she was nothing than a worthless piece of garbage on the street. Every day the girl 's mom had something negative to say to the girl whether it was that she was stupid, worthless, or even someone who nobody wanted around. Every day the girl wished to be accepted by her mother, but she knew deep down that would never happen. The girl battled anxiety and depression disorder caused by her mother 's years of torture and abusive ways. The girl was on