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Part 4, Chapter 17
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
While Ivy and Melinda are working in the art room, Ivy accidentally gets magic marker on Melinda’s shirt. Melinda comments that anyone else probably would have done this on purpose, but that she and Ivy have “sort of been friendly” recently.
Both David and Ivy give Melinda the sense that she may one day have friends again; even the usually pessimistic Melinda cannot help but be hopeful about her connection with Ivy.
Themes
The two girls try to wash the shirt in the bathroom. As Melinda waits in a stall wearing her bra while Ivy scrubs the shirt, she reads the graffiti on the walls. Despite feeling exposed and cold, Melinda musters her courage and asks Ivy what she meant about Andy Evans being trouble. Ivy responds that she’s heard rumors about his sexual aggression. Melinda borrows a marker from Ivy and begins a list: Guys to Stay Away From; under the heading, she writes Andy’s name. Ivy is pleased.
Physically exposed (she is wearing only her bra), Melinda somehow finds the courage to emotionally expose herself to Ivy as well by asking about Andy. Her bravery then continues, as she writes Andy’s name on the bathroom wall. Although this is a small step, Melinda is finding the ability to indirectly talk about her trauma, if not to speak at least to communicate anonymously.
Themes
