Melinda Depression In Speak

In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the protagonist, Melinda, suffers with depression. Melinda’s depression began because of an event that occurred one night at a high school party. On that night, Melinda was raped while under the influence of alcohol. She felt as if she was unable to talk about what happened and decided to isolate herself throughout the summer. Due to the way she handled things after being assaulted, Melinda realizes her actions cause her to lose her friends. Many victims of sexual assault tend to isolate themselves, which is why Melinda can connect to many victims that have gone through this experience. After being raped, Melinda develops social anxiety and begins to socially and physically harm herself, just as millions of other survivors of

sexual assault have.
Although Melinda may seem okay, Melinda’s depression leads her to harm herself physically and socially. One way Melinda harms herself physically is when she intentionally cuts herself. “I open up a paper clip and scratch it across the inside of my left wrist. Pitiful. If a suicide attempt is a cry for help, then what is this? A whimper, a peep?” (Anderson 87). This quote from the novel helps support the pain Melinda was going through, which led her to these actions. However, not all forms of self harm are considered physical. Many victims of sexual assault become very reserved and develop social anxiety. One can relate to both these forms of self harm because unfortunately, many people suffer with both of these after traumatizing incidents like the one Melinda went though.. “Victims of sexual assault are three times more likely to suffer from depression” (Effects of Rape 3). This quote from the article helps support the fact most victims end up struggling with depression. Therefore, Melinda can relate to people who may have gone through the same traumatizing experience because one can easily connect to self, and physical harm to themselves after being assaulted.
After experiencing this traumatizing event, Melinda begins to change. Although Melinda may not have the intention, she changes in a large course of action. One way Melinda changes is she does not care about school. Her grades begin to curtail and she also begins to ditch classes. “Why go to school? The first hour of blowing off school is great. No one can tell me what to do, what to read, what to say” (Anderson 97). This quote from the novel shows how little Melinda cares about school. It also shows how free she feels when she is not at school. “The vast majority of young women, regardless if they were enrolled in school, knew their offender, according to the report released Thursday” (Sullivan 8). This quote from the article helps shows that many victims knew their rapist. Due to the fact that one may know their rapists, one will skip school, move towns, or do whatever it takes to get away from the offender. To conclude with, Melinda can connect to other victims because many other people may act out as well after experiencing a traumatizing event like this.
On the other hand, Melinda tends to isolate herself over the summer.

Melinda makes minimal contact with her friends and as a consequence, loses her friends after these actions. Little did Melinda’s friends know, she was avoiding them unintentionally. On the first day of school, when Melinda sees her friends again, she realizes they want nothing to do with her. “I see a few friends, people I used to think were my friends, but they look away” (Anderson 8). This quote proves that Melinda was able to understand that her friends were not really her friends anymore. There are many reasons why victims may isolate themselves after this experience. “Victims are three times more likely to suffer from depression, six times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, 26 times more likely to abuse drugs, and four times more likely to contemplate suicide” (Who are the Victims 3). This quote from the article may help readers understand why victims suffer from diagnosis’ like depression, which cause them to isolate themselves. As a final point, victims of sexual assaults can connect to Melinda because they may isolate themselves after this type of

incident.
In conclusion, Melinda develops social anxiety after she is raped. She begins to socially and physically harm herself, lack in school work, and isolate herself, just as millions of other survivors of sexual assault would. Therefore, the self destrucive behaviors of Melinda include self harm, lack in school, and isolating herself. To start off, self harm is not always physically done. It can also be meantally or socially painful as well. Secondly, Melinda began lacking in school. She would skip school some days and not do her work. Lastly, Melinda began to isolate herself. This caused her to lose many of her friends. Although a lot of Melinda’s actions were not intentional, a victim of sexual assult does not choose the way one might act after an incident like Melinda’s.