Character Analysis: Speak Essay

Character Analysis Essay

In the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson I chose Melinda for my selected character. I chose her because she is the main character and she is in the whole book. I think I relate to Melinda in different ways. One of the reasons I think I am similar to Melinda is cause she doesnt like her school at all like me. She is also a loner with no friends and I myself dont have a large amount of friends.

In the beginning of the novel Melinda seems like a loner with no friends, and a little insecure, As we leave the last stop, I am the only person sitting alone(3) She is always alone except for sometimes she hangs out with this new girl Heather. Melinda also has nothing good to ever say about herself.

Melinda changes throughout the novel due to all the stress she goes through. It makes he stronger with conflicts she goes through. In the beginning she is insecure and worried and farther into the novel she became strong and courageous. In the first part of the novel Melinda is worried about starting high school and being by her self all the time. She is also very insecure in the first part; she always calls herself ugly and fat. Gradually she starts changing, and changes her mind about things. She then meets a girl named Heather and they start hanging out and becoming friends. Heather and Melinda dont really have anything in common but they still hang out.

Melinda made a complete change compared to the end of the novel. She begins to not think of little things that bother her as much and she just lets them go, Andy Evans raped me in August when I was drunk and to young to know what was happening. It wasnt my fault. He hurt me. It wasnt my fault and Im not going to let it kill me. I can grow(198) From getting raped it made her stronger, and more secure about herself. She changed for the best and now has a better idea about the things she goes through.

By reading speak we learned about how much different peoples lives can be for our own. Some can be different in a bad way, and others can be different in a good way. Everyone is unique in their own way and has something different or strange about them. We have a lot of respect for Melinda and what she had to go through was most likely really hard for her and wasnt easy at all. Speak teaches you about struggles teenagers can and will go through in their life and it also helps you get through them in a positive way. This book is very interesting and grabs your attention we suggest it to anyone that is interested in reading it.