How do characters personality's affect the main characters personality in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson


       The book Speak written by Laurie Halse Anderson is about a girl named Melina, a freshman at her new school. She use to have a tight group of friends in middle school but ever since the incident that happened last summer at a party, no one talks to her. Even her closest friends wont talk to her, and are extremely mad at her. Melina tries to handle high school with only one "friend", Heather who isn't that much of a friend and Melina can't really trust her. Not only is she having a problems with friends at her school, she also has to keep on top of her grades, which isn't easy because whats the point if no one likes you? Who are you trying to impress? Not to mention her parents always fight and don't exactly understand who she really  is, or what goes on her life. Melina learns how to deal with high school even in her bad situations. She gets stronger and weaker throughout the story mostly depending on who she is with. Some characters make her more courages, and speak out for what she really believes in and wants to say. While others make her stay even quieter and makes her lose her confidence and her voice.


        Although many characters made Melina's confidence go down and made her insecure, many characters bring out the best in her, and makes her personality kinder and more confident and courageous. For example Melina's old friend Ivy is incredibly nice and caring to her friends. Ivy is an amazing artist and when she saw Melina struggling with her art she helped. The were very close last year but the incident that had happened made them grow apart from each other. But since Melina doesn't have many friends she is becoming less confident in herself. When Ivy started talking to Melina, and when she started to support her with her art work, Melina becomes more confident because she realized that people do like her. This causes Melina to stand up to Heather, Melina's friend who uses her. Not only Ivy's personality is having a positive outcome on Melina's, as does Mr.Freeman her art teacher. He is weird and quirky but also very supportive to his art, and his students. Many students find him weird and strict, but Melina really likes him. She thinks he teaches well and teaches his students with care. Melina has gotten into art recently and tries really hard in his class, and outside of his class. Mr.Freeman lets Melina know that she has potential and that she just has to keep trying harder. He gives hard critisim which makes her work harder. This makes her work harder in her other subjects, and makes her more confident with her art work.


        There are also negative people in Melina's life. For example  Andy the beast. The whole reason why everyone hates Melina. Andy is gorgeous jerk who uses women and girls at his school  and doesn't care about anyone but himself. He is incredibly selfish. However when he showed interest in Melina, she fell for it. He was beautiful and she had no idea who he was or what he did to girls. She got excited thinking she would start high school with a senior as her boyfriend. But of course that was to good to be true. He raped her and she didn't tell anyone. What would they think of her? Andy still messes with her by playing with her ponytail throughout the year, and makes her feel uncomfortable but of course he doesn't care. Whenever he is around her she cannot speak, it makes her even worse than she is. She loses confidence and becomes extremely shy and doesn't open up to them.


        Overall many people can change your personality. If their personality is mean and cruel, it will probably make you feel bad and make you feel stupid or turn you bad as well. And if they are nice to you and supportive they will make you have more confidence and courage to do things. For example they can make you stand up for your self. Its always better to be around people who are kind and nice and don't judge you because they will make you feel good about your self, and you will become a better person.