'Speak And If-': A Literary Analysis

David Sack, a doctor who wrote an article for Psychology Today articulates, “trauma experienced in childhood has a special ability to wound.” Nevertheless, these difficulties allow to gain insight into adulthood. Melinda Sordino from Speak struggled to overcome her battle with depression after being raped. Rudyard Kipling, the author of If-, explained the traits of being a man and adult. The Art of Resilience emphasizes the point that people are capable of subduing hardships. In Speak, The Art of Resilience, and If-, personification, conflict, and symbolism develop the theme that although adolescence can be associated with challenges, it ultimately culminates individuals into young adults. Theme as revealed through personification develops

Based on Melinda’s tragic experience at the beginning of freshman year, she later notes, “high school is one long hazing activity: if you are tough enough to survive this, they will let you become an adult”(191). Her internal conflict of not being able to speak about being raped carries throughout the story; nevertheless, Melinda survives her first year of high school by using her words to stand up to Andy Evans, the boy that raped her. Throughout freshman year of high school, Melinda is treated poorly and is ignored by her peers as well as her family. When Melinda faces Andy Evans for a second time, she finally has the power and confidence to stand up to him. Laurie Halse Anderson shows that this was the moment Melinda was becoming a young adult. Conflict was exhibited in The Art of Resilience when Emmy Werner, a notable source in Hara Estroff Marano’s article, claims that individuals who came from troubled pasts “pulled themselves together, determined to not repeat their parents’ lives(20). These adults who lived a troubled childhood vowed to rise about their parents’ mistakes in order to become strong, level-headed individuals. They did not want their hardships as a child to follow them into adulthood. The authors of Speak and The Art of Resilience uniquely integrated conflict into their stories to further reinforce the

In Speak, Melinda’s struggle to draw a lively tree eventually leads to her illustrating one which is “definitely breathing; little shallow breaths like it sht up through the ground this morning”(196). When Melinda realizes she will be able to recover from being raped, despite being damaged, she designs a detailed tree that symbolizes her growth, Melinda draws a tee that resembles her life as a freshman. The tree may net be perfect; however, it should not be because it would not have any meaning to Melinda or readers. The branch that was lower to the ground and sick symbolizes the feeling of pain Melinda held within herself throughout the story. Melinda understands that if this tree was growing in real life, the sick branch would need to fall off. This represents that Melinda is finally able to partially let go of her sadness and become a healthy girl that is growing and learning. Rudyard Kipling, the author of If-, realizes growing into adulthood is complicated; therefore, he teaches his son how to “be a man, my son”(32) through listing the traits of a man. By teaching his son at an early age the characteristics a man should possess, like confidence, perseverance, and balance in life, Rudyard Kipling’s son will defeat his difficulties more easily. Symbolism supported the theme that although adolescence can be associated with challenges, it ultimately culminates