The Symbolism in The Novel of Speak

Assalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb. Let me introduce myself. Thank you for coming to this
presentation. I am glad to see you all. In this opportunity, I would like to present the
symbolism as reflected in the novel of speak.

First of all, I will explain to you about the detail meaning of symbolism itself.
According to Stokstad, Symbolism is an intellectual movement in late-nineteenth-century art
and literature which seek a deeper and more mysterious reality than the one we encounter in
everyday life. Therefore, I can say that the symbolism is something that means more than
what it is; explaining more about an object, person, situation, or action and suggesting other
meanings as well. In the novel speak, there are two symbolisms that strongly depict for a
main character, Melinda Sordino, who is a rape victim in senior high school.

The first symbolism is a tree, because it appears in the beginning until the end of the
story. Tree can be interpreted by the different several meanings. At the beginning of story,
Melinda are introduced by her art teacher, Mr. Freeman, how to change an object into an art
and she gets “Tree” as an object for her artworks. According to enotes, this shows that tree
becomes important symbol to show how Melinda struggles against sexual abuse trauma
because the tree`s growth is similar with Melinda’s growth in her life after being sexually
abused. For instance, Melinda feels a tree is hard at first and it means that she cannot move
on from her sexual abuse problem. Then she tries to draw it, even it does not have the
complete sketch, and it means that she also tries to fight her trauma and rise up for her future.
Based on Amy`s article in the pad website, when Melinda’s trauma begins to heal, her
drawing progress becomes more detailed as if like the nature sketch without symmetrical
perfectness. This can symbolize Melinda’s rising because she finally can move on for
handling her sexual abuse traumatic. In that case, Litchart website saying that Melinda’s
efforts to draw a tree are as her ability to move on, and to mature as a person.

The second symbolism is the season that happens in this novel. Based on shmoop
article, the season in this novel also symbolize some meanings related to her movement
recovering traumatic. For example, autumn which is characterized with the tree leaves are
falling. It reflects with bullying and sexual abuse incidents when Melinda enters senior high
school. Then, during winter which is characterized by cold and quietness also related to
Melinda’s condition. She becomes silence since her trauma seriously affecting her physical
and mind. When winter comes, it symbolizes her pain. According to Rina`s journal, after
the season goes by, Melinda shows a good progress; this can be shown on spring while the
flowers are blooming which means she starts to adapt with her social circle and improve her
creativity in art drawings.

In brief, as formal element, symbolism is one of the elements that support to literary
works. It could be seen in the novel of Speak which has the symbolisms, such as: a tree and
the season. Those symbolisms are focused on representing Melinda’s process against her
sexual abuse traumatic.