Daisy's Journal Entry #2

There are three major themes in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, communication, isolation and depression. The theme of communication is seen throughout the novel as Melinda after being sexually assaulted does not communicate any of her thoughts and feelings with anyone. She keeps her feelings all bottled up inside her. Melinda needs to discover that silence has a place and a purpose, but that sometimes speaking loudly and communicating with someone is necessary to fix your problems. Sometimes it is harder to keep your emotions inside than it is to express yourself and to speak up. Isolation is also a major theme in this novel. Melinda slowly begins to isolate herself from everyone and everything; she assumes that no one likes her when in reality a good part of her isolation is self-imposed as she withdraws from people. The main reason as to why Melinda isolates herself is because she is scared. She is scared that people will judge her and that they will hurt her as so many already have. The last major theme found in this novel is depression. Melinda is deeply sad. She's been raped and cannot tell anyone, everyone who was ever her friend (Rachel) hates her. Everything in her world is slowly beginning to be enveloped with the darkness of depression. She begins to do self-harm, not care about school or her physical appearance and is letting all of her bottled up emotions of fear and sadness take over her life. Melinda needs to discover that people are there to help her and that people care about her such as Mr. Freeman and David Petrakis. I feel that slowly with the help of these two characters Melinda will be able to heel herself and speak once again.