The Importance Of Setting In Sherwood Anderson's Speak

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Speak is an about the story of Melinda Sordino, a 13-year-old rape victim, and her high school experience in the 9th grade. When Melinda went to a party in the summer of 8th grade, she and her friends went to a party. Something happened at the party where Melinda had to call the cops. Later it is known that Andy Evans, a popular womanizer, sexually assaulted Melinda. Melinda was too embarrassed about what happened and did not tell anyone why she called the police. Now everyone hates her and Melinda becomes a loner. Melinda only has one friend, Heather from Ohio. Heather is a new girl at Merryweather High School in Syracuse and craves popularity. The only reason that she is friends with Melinda is because to her Melinda is a placeholder …show more content…

In the book, closets mean a place where Melinda reflects and is safe from "IT" , but is also a place that is lonely and isolated. Melinda uses the closet as a means of hiding from her personal problems, where she could take names and where she could vent. When Melinda feels safe because she thinks Andy has been found out as a sexual predator, Melinda feels like she does not need a closet anymore. "I don't feel like hiding anymore" (88.1).In a twist of faith, Melinda is attacked by Andy when she is about to get out. The closet then makes Melinda go from a powerless victim to strong women who fought off her enemy and gains control of herself and her life. Another setting that affects the theme is The Rodgers Farm. The Rodgers Farm is where Melinda got raped by Andy at the end of summer party. Although it is true, when Melinda went back to the farm she describes the farm as an innocent and pleasant place. She contemplates, "You could bring a kindergarten class here for a picnic" (85.11). She makes the place from a place of horror to a place where she finds the answers of herself. When she touches a tree, she tries to read it like "a Braille code"

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