The Changing Tree

Authors Note- I wrote my essay on the symbolism of the tree on the book Speak.

For many teens, school is a place full of bullies and problems. In the book Speak, Melinda not only has to deal with these everyday problems, but she has to deal with an issue that has changed her life forever. The author, Laurie Halse Anderson used the symbol the tree to represent Melinda's life, feelings, and problems. Throughout the book, you see Melinda struggling to draw the tree, and as the book goes on you see really how much the tree symbolizes.

In most books, trees are a symbol of life and growth. In Speak, trees are the symbol of death. Melinda seems to be dying from the inside because she is holding in her feelings and is refusing to tell anyone about what really happened. When Mr. Freeman gives Melinda her assignment, she refuses saying “This is too easy, I learned how to draw a tree when I was in the first grade”. Mr. Freeman tells her to perfect her tree and make it her own. I think Mr. Freeman was suggesting to put in what she really feels and to open up about her life.

Throughout the book, Melinda has troubles drawing her tree. She can’t bring the tree to life and it lacks dimension. Numerous times Melinda attempts drawing the tree, but it never turns out. One time she draws a beautiful tree, which makes Mr. Freeman mad because it is too perfect. Another time, she draws a tree getting struck by lightning, which shows her pain and struggles. Finally, at the end Melinda finally opens up about her rape and is able to draw the tree correctly. The ending tree shows her struggles and has parts of her life in it.  She adds a sick branch that represents her rape, and she adds that “it better get cut down before it infects the rest of the tree.”At the top, Melinda draws healthy young branches that reach up toward the sky, representing her re-growth as a person.

Not only was Melinda’s art assignment, the only time tree symbolism showed up, in fact, the tree in Melinda’s yard was also a big symbol. One day when Melinda was coming home from school, she sees that the tree was getting cut down. She tells her dad that they are killing it and he says, “They aren’t killing it, they are saving it. It has sick branches and if they don’t cut them off, they will kill the rest of the tree.” This is a big symbol and it represents the sick part of Melinda from the rape. He is telling her that if she doesn’t get over it and move on or open up about it, it will eventually take all of her and she will die.

Melinda had to overcome a lot through the book but in the end, she finally draws the tree right. She opens up about her rape and along the way gains some real friends. She overcomes the “dead” part of her and eventually begins her re-growth process.