Rape In Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak

Speak Essay

Martnishn 1

One in 10 young Americans has committed an act of sexual violence (Freleng). Rape is a serious issue that negatively affects the victim and their family. Rape is when someone sexually touches another person without their consent. This most commonly happens to women but men

can also fall victim to this awful crime. In the time that it takes a person to read this essay two people in the U.S alone will have been raped. In the novel Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, the main protagonist is a 9th grade girl named Melinda Sordino. During the summer of 8th grade, she is at a party and gets raped. She calls the cops but the rapist doesn't get into trouble, only the other kids do. Then during the school year the other kids hate

her because of what she did. Rape has a monumental influence on a victim's emotional and psychological welfare. This is accurately demonstrated within the character of Melinda Sordino.
Rape is a crime of aggression and violence that leaves the victim's life in pieces. "Every three minutes a women in the United States is being raped but only 1 in every 10 race cases are actually reported" (kilpatrick). When women get raped it's more likely for them not to report it then to report it because they are scared or too embarrassed to tell someone. The rapist isn't always a stranger to the victim. "55% of women are raped by someone whom they know; the remaining are raped by a stranger" (RAINN). Most rape victims are raped by someone who they know, but It's portrayed differently in drama films. Rape is a common thing yet it is rarely

spoken about. "1out of every 6 American women has been the victim of attempted or completed rape in her lifetime" (RAINN). Most people would never imagine that someone you know will be a victim of rape. Not only does rape negatively effect the victim but it also effects the victim's family. "Fifty percent of rape victims lost or were forced to quit their jobs in the year following their rapes due to the severity of their reactions" (Ellis, Atkeson & Calhoun) "Lifetime income loss, due to sexual violence in adolescence, is estimated at $241,600" (MacMillan, 2008). These statistics help demonstrate the negative effects of rape among families that are secondary victims to rape.
Rape not only negatively effects the victim's physical being but also effects their mind and social life.

"30% of rape victims had experienced at least one major depressive episode in their lifetimes" (Kilpatrick). To simplify that shattering statistic, that means almost 1/3 of all rape victims experience depression through out their lifetime. The victims of rape are often scared of telling people what happened because they don't want their identity to be known. "68% of all rape Victims are concerned of their identity being revealed to the public and becoming known for being a rape victim" (Kilpatrick). Women experience anxiety about their story being shown to the public. Rape victims also seem to develop PTSD similar to a war veteran. "Rape victims are 6.2 times more likely to develop PTSD than women who have never been victims

of
rape" (Kilpatrick). Women who have experienced rape have a much higher chance that someone who hasn't. Rape increases the chance of developing unwanted burdens like PTSD, Depression and Anxiety.
Through out the novel Melinda Sordino shows depression because she was raped at a party. "I have survived. I am here. Confused, screwed up, but here. So, how can I find my way?
Martnishn 2
Is there a chain saw of the soul, an axe I can take to my memories or fears" (Anderson 42)? Melinda hates the memories and thought of being raped and just wants a fresh start because of all the friends she lost. Research says that rape is a huge factor that effects someone's outlook on life. "The psychological and emotional strain that rape puts on victims may lead to depression. Early symptoms of depression in rape and sexual abuse survivors may go unnoticed or be attributed to a normal period of re-adjustment following the attack" (Day One). Rape has many repercussions and depression is large category. Additionally Melinda is so depressed she can't even bare to look at herself so she removes all the mirrors in her room. "I get out of my bed and take down the mirror. I put it back in my closet, facing the wall" (Anderson 67). This is a sign of extreme depression. Depression is a key factor at influencing the negative thoughts of a rape victim.
Anxiety also ties into one the many psychological effects of rape.

Melinda can relate to this because of all the times that she was just thinking about the time she was raped made her feel stressed. Anxiety after rape can effect the amount of sleep a person gets. "AAETS conducted research saying that "A change in sleep patterns, more often or not the ability to sleep or stay asleep for any length of time. These symptoms create a huge deal of anxiety as survivors never know when the next sensation will occur. This anticipation and discomfort leads to arousal symptoms." When Melinda would think of being raped she wouldn't be able to fall asleep because of the amounts of anxiety that would build up. "I just want to sleep. The whole point of not talking about it, of silencing the memory, is to make it go away. I'll need brain surgery to cut it out of my head" (Anderson). Melinda's anxiety is keeping her up at night thinking about what happened that one night over the past

summer.
Martnishn 3
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a serious condition among women that have been raped and can occur decades after the initial rape. Melinda demonstrates PTSD when she sees Andy Evans and several other times throughout the entire novel. I see IT in the hallway. IT goes to Merryweather. IT is walking with Aubrey Cheerleader. IT is my nightmare and I can't wake
up" (Anderson 45). Melinda freezes in fear every time she sees Andy Evans. She refers to him as It because she doesn’t want to think of him as a person and since she can’t bring herself to say his name. Scholars at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health indicated that development of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is likely in 50 to 95 percent of rape cases (2007). Melinda hates school because she believes that she is constantly being judged by everyone around her. The cafeteria is like a giant sound stage where they film daily segments of teenage Humiliation Rituals" (Anderson 24). Rape victims often have different forms of PTSD, Melinda bites her lips to cope with stress that rape has equipped her with. Every time Melinda bites her lips the pain reminds her of when she was raped. "Survivors are often reminded of the rape when they don't intend to think about it. Some say the memories come "out of the blue." Intrusive symptoms may take the form of flashbacks, dreams, smells, or other bodily
sensations" (RAINN).
Rape has a shattering influence on a victim's emotional and psychological welfare. This is obviously depicted within the character of Melinda Sordino. Melinda shows depression by not being able to look at herself in the mirror. She also demonstrates anxiety when she thinks about rape and this causes her to lose sleep. PTSD was a huge factor in Melinda's social life. She thought that everyone was judging her. She didn't trust any one and always had a negative attitude about everything in her life. Laurie Halse Anderson shows Melinda's devastating
Martnishn 4
suffering and struggle but still gives hope to people like Melinda. She shows vivid examples of how someone in Melinda's position might think, feel, and be thought about. She explains that being the victim of rape is serious and that remission is possible.
Martnishn 5
Works Cited
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1999. Print.
"Effects of Sexual Violence." Rape Victim Advocates. RVA, 28 May 2015. Web. 18 May 2016. "FACTS ON RAPE." BRISSC. N.p., 2015. Web. 18 May 2016.
Kilpatrick, Dean G. "Mental Health Impact of Rape." Mental Health Impact of Rape. Medical
University of South Carolina, 2007. Web. 18 May 2016.
"PTSD: National Center for PTSD." Sexual Assault Against Females -. Government, 2012. Web.
18 May 2016.
"Statistics." Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. RAINN, 2009. Web. 18 May 2016.