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Part 4, Chapter 4
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
Melinda is horrified to discover that Rachel and Greta-Ingrid have gone to the movies with Andy, and now are adoringly following him around everywhere. She listens in disgust as Rachel babbles about her date, and begins to worry about Rachel in spite of herself, terrified that Andy will hurt her former friend in some way. Although she is still furious with Rachel, calling her “a witch and a traitor,” she also acknowledges that Rachel doesn’t know what happened.
Melinda’s deep anger with Rachel clashes with the love and protectiveness that she still feels for her former friend. Amazed by how deceiving appearances can be, she must remind herself that Rachel has no way of knowing Andy’s true nature
Themes
Melinda follows Rachel and her friends to the foreign language wing, and watches as Andy flirts with Greta-Ingrid and Rachel. Rachel eventually ends up on Andy’s lap, and when the two say goodbye, they kiss. Melinda calls his lips “poison.” Despite her anger, Melinda is paralyzed with memories of her friend in third grade.
