This essay criticises Laurie Halse Anderson's portrayal of Andy Evans in "Speak". likening him to a parasite due to his inhuman behavior. It argues that his one-sided depiction limits empathy towards Andy, highlighting the need for more nuanced characterizations of antagonists in literature.
Table of Contents
1. The Creation of Distance towards Characters in Speak – Accurate or not?
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores how Laurie Halse Anderson creates emotional and psychological distance between the reader and the antagonist, Andy Evans, in the novel Speak. By analyzing the character through the metaphor of a parasite and examining power dynamics within their relationship, the text investigates whether the author’s one-sided and exaggerated depiction effectively portrays a rapist or risks oversimplifying complex human behaviors.
- The use of dehumanizing metaphors and animalistic terminology to describe the antagonist.
- The concept of the "flat character" and the impact of superficial labeling in literature.
- Analysis of power dynamics, exploitation, and interpersonal relationships.
- The psychological effects of trauma on the protagonist, Melinda Sordino.
- Critical reflection on the dangers of monolithic character portrayals and lack of empathy.
Excerpt from the Book
The Creation of Distance towards Characters in Speak – Accurate or not?
These three different aspects are important for a parasite: non-humanness, exploitation and damage (Lexico.com). Firstly, when considering biology, a parasite is not human, but an animal, a plant or a microorganism (Lexico.com). Its main purpose is to survive, which is only secured by harming other living beings, when nurturing itself at the other’s expense (Lexico.com). This is why the second aspect important for a parasite is that it needs to exploit others in order to live. For the third aspect, the focus is set on the host: it becomes damaged or diseased because of the parasite (Lexico.com).
Young Adult Fiction is designed for young people in order to offer a character to identify with and even adults can learn how to recover from traumatic experiences in puberty or childhood for instance (Urban Dictionary). Furthermore, there often is a character to disidentify with because he acts selfish and unemotional. Reading Speak, written by Laurie Halse Anderson and published in 1999, the reader can suggest that Andy may be like a parasite and Melinda his host. The advice given by Michael Bessay Johnson is something many readers of the novel Speak wish they could have given to Melinda, the protagonist, earlier. The metaphor demonstrates exactly what can be done with villainy flat characters, especially with the character Andy Evans.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Creation of Distance towards Characters in Speak – Accurate or not?: This analytic essay examines how the narrative depiction of Andy Evans as a parasite-like, flat character constructs a barrier of distance for the reader, while simultaneously analyzing the power imbalances that cause trauma for the protagonist, Melinda Sordino.
Keywords
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson, Andy Evans, Melinda Sordino, Parasite, Dehumanization, Power Dynamics, Rape, Flat Character, Literature, Young Adult Fiction, Trauma, Exploitation, Antagonist, Narrative Distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper primarily analyzes the stylistic and narrative methods used by Laurie Halse Anderson to create a distance between the reader and the character Andy Evans in the novel Speak.
What are the central thematic fields addressed in the text?
The themes include the dehumanization of antagonists, the dynamics of abusive and exploitative relationships, the psychological impact of sexual assault, and the literary construction of villainous, flat characters.
What is the primary research goal or central question?
The goal is to determine if the author's decision to depict Andy Evans as a "parasite" and a flat, inhuman character is an effective literary device or if it creates an unbalanced portrayal that avoids exploring the potential depth of the criminal's background.
Which scientific methods are applied in this analysis?
The author employs literary analysis supported by social-psychological concepts of interpersonal relationships (such as "profits, alternatives, and investments") and linguistic analysis of metaphor and terminology.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body treats the use of animalistic imagery, the "principle of least interest" regarding power, the lack of human identity assigned to the antagonist, and the resulting mental and physical health trauma manifested in the protagonist.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Essential keywords include literary analysis, dehumanization, power dynamics, narrative distance, trauma, and the critique of villainous characterization in Young Adult Fiction.
Why is the term "parasite" central to the author's argument?
The term is used as a metaphor to analyze three specific aspects of Andy Evans' actions: his non-human nature, his exploitative behavior, and the physical and mental damage caused to his host, Melinda.
How does the author view the potential negative impact of the character's depiction?
The author warns that portraying a human, even a criminal, strictly as a "monster" creates a lack of empathy and could potentially hinder a nuanced understanding of social and psychological realities.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lisa Thöne (Autor:in), 2020, The Creation of Distance towards Characters in Speak. Accurate or not, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1477008
