Themes, Symbols.

Themes
The students at Merryweather High School disrespect Melinda for calling the police at the party. They never knew her story or why she called the police. The theme of Speak, is to not judge someone's decisions before you understand them. Also, tragic events take a while to talk about and get over.

Symbols
Sordino- In Italian, sordino means mute.

Melinda's closet- It shows Melinda's feelings and how she keeps them all inside when she doesn't speak.

Trees in art- She is unable to bring the details to life until the end of the story with the help of Ivy, just like she is unable to bring the details of that night to life until help from Ivy.

Spanish Class- They will not speak in English the whole year, no one understands Spanish to well because they haven't learned it, just like no one understands Melinda because they haven't learned about her.

Hairwomen- She is hidden under her hair until the end of the story, Melinda is hidden until the end of the story when she begins to become herself again.