Transition of Melinda from Voiceless to Voice in Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak: A Feminist Analytic Study

Abstract

This study aims to highlight misogynistic oppression of female consent in the novel “Speak” by American writer Laurie Halse Anderson. This study is mainly focused on females’ consent and oppression. The current study highlights one of the most prevailing evils in society; female consent and gender discrimination. This study focuses on the significance of consent. Sensual consent is generally regarded as an issue about female consent. The objective of this study is to identify how the protagonist became victim of sensual assault without seeking her consent. This study has been delimited to the feminist analytic study of Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel Speak (1999), which deals with gender stereotypes, and how Melinda, the protagonist of the novel is assaulted by her senior schoolmate without her consent and she becomes voiceless. Using a qualitative method, the researcher has applied the theory of consent (2003) by Alan Wertheimer from the field of literature for applying it on the literary texts. This study finds out the problems of consent faced by women. This study concludes that the protagonist, Melinda takes stand for herself against the societal norms by speaking up for herself. This study is an addition to the existing knowledge or gender issues and women suppression. It may help in deconstructing gender discourse and awareness about women consent and their rights.

Keywords: Gender Role, Theory of Consent, Laurie Halse Anderson, Moral significance of Consent, Speak