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Part 4, Chapter 16
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Speak, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age
Communication versus Silence
Appearance versus Reality
Family and Friendship
Isolation, Loneliness, and Depression
Memory and Trauma
Summary
Analysis
Hairwoman has gotten a buzz cut, and Melinda wonders what has caused the transformation. She discusses the final essay—a choice between “‘Symbolism in Comics’” and “‘How Story Changed My Life’”—and mentally asks whether Hairwoman has published a novel or “found a good shrink.” She wonders if Hairwoman will be teaching at summer school.
Melinda displays her sense of humor and perceptiveness as she notes the new and improved attitude of Hairwoman. The interesting essay topics, meanwhile, imply that Hairwoman has again found an effective way to communicate with her students.
Themes
