Speak Laurie Halse Anderson Character Analysis

Words: 611
Pages: 3

Courage Essay Martin Luther King Jr has an superior understanding of courage, stating "We must build dikes of courage to hold back the fools of fear". Laurie Halse Anderson would most certainly with this statement because she has made an entire book about a girl showing courage.

In the book "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson who displays courage? The main character and one less obvious character shows courage in the book. The main character is a Melinda and she shows courage by sticking up you to seniors in her high school and doing the right thing. There's two important examples where Melinda shows courage. David Petrakis is the less obvious character but sticking up to a teacher. There's one vast example where David shows courage
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I am a citizen with the same rights your son or you. As a citizen, and as a student, I am protesting the tone of this lesson as racist, intolerant and xenophobic"(56).
This shows that David has the courage to stand up to Mr. Neck since he was being a racist while explaining what he's doing wrong.

Melinda shows courage a second time with the same senior...Andy Evans. This time in a school closet. "ITs hand leaves my throat, attacks my body. I had the wood against the poster in the mirror under it, again. I reached in and wrap my fingers on the triangle of glass. I hold it to Andy Evans neck. He freezes. He raises his arms over his head. "I said no."He nods" (195). This shows that Melinda has a lot of courage considering she could have ended up in the hospital or even died.

Melinda shows courage throughout this whole story. Everyone needs to have courage. Having courage let's you stand out and be your own person and not hide in a group. Have you ever been asked "What are you wearing" If you have, stick up to them and show some courage. That will make the person stop being rude while not being disrespectful