A struggle for Justice: Speak

Title: Speak

Author: Laurie Anderson

Publisher/Date: Penguin Putnam Inc. 2003

Speak by Laurie Anderson tells the story of a 14 year old girls first year at high school. In the beginning of this book we learn that Melinda, the main character in this novel is an outcast. On her very first day of high school she received many hard stares and is even ignored by her friends. This raised many questions in my head, one being: What could Melinda have done to have everyone shun her so absolutely?

Melinda reveals to us slowly bits and pieces of the event that ruined her reputation and potentially her whole life. She eventually explains to us in the middle of the book that she was raped and was in such a panic that she called the cops and got so many people arrested. In this state of panic Melinda reveals to no one that she was raped which results in her being ostracized from her circle of friends who eventually break into cliques of their own.  She is haunted by IT ( she refers to her Rapist, Andy Evans)  who ends up dating her former best friend Rachel. Upon learning this Melinda feel that she must inform her of the Rape, but Rachel refuses to believe her and becomes even more hostile toward Melinda. In the end of the story, Andy, angry at Melinda for “lying about the rape” attempts to rape her once more but Melinda is rescued by the Lacrosse team.

“I have entered high school with the wrong hair, the wrong clothes and the wrong attitude. And I don’t have anyone to sit with. I Am Outcast.” (Anderson, 4)

This quote takes place on Melinda’s first day of school. She is one among a small minority that is “clanless” in high school. In May weather high school, the mentality of all the students are joining clans are essential. Melinda is unable to do so because she is in a  state where most rape victims are, which is self-blame, and is unable to come forward about the rape. Therefore, she is unable to join a group because everyone is aware about what she has done at the party.

My impression of this book was it is a very powerful piece of literature. The author has done a very nice job of creating a character that faces the depression of rape and shows us how she is able to relieve her anxiety and despair through art, which is a very good outlet that helped her deal with the rape.