Symbolism of tree by the character of Melinda Sordino in Speak

Juhal Ashsyuhada
63714005
[email protected]

ABSTRACT

This essay is psychoanalysis on the character of Melinda Sordino. Sigmund Freud

stated that the disorder can be found for patients who suffered by knowing it through
dream, symbolism, the tripartite of psyche, and creativity. However, on this paper it
focuses only on symbolism of tree. Specifically, this paper aims to give an
understanding to reader about the hidden message of symbolism that the writer used
in her writing. The data were collected from Speak, a novel by Laurie Halse
Anderson. The theory used by Sigmund Freud about symbolism.

Keywords: Psychoanalysis, symbolism, tree.

Introduction

For those who like read literary text, they might be asking, what is a symbol? Freud
defines the symbol as a comparison where the compared term disappears. If we
compare, for example, a snake with a staff, when the compared object - the snake - is
no longer specified, we only have the staff which could be a symbol for the snake. I
did not use by chance this example because staff can suggest more than a snake to
Freud.
Symbols appear especially in dreams - in nocturnal and diurnal (fantasies) as well.
But they are also present in the awoken life - in the culture of people, in religious
believes, in myths and folklore. Symbols are also present in neurosis - or more
precisely in their thought content. These symbols that at first sight seem to be very
different have a unique signification in Freud's view: they points to the human sexual
life, more precisely to sexual organs.

Let's see what had to say Freud about several symbols:

We have not yet finished with symbols. There are some which we believed we
recognized but which nevertheless worried us because we could not explain how this
particular symbol had come to have that particular meaning. In such cases
confirmations from elsewhere - from philology, folklore, mythology or ritual - were
bound to be especially welcome. An instance of this sort is the symbol of an overcoat
or cloak. We have said that in a woman's dreams this stands for a man. I hope it will
impress you when you hear that Theodor Reik (1920) gives us this information:
'During the extremely ancient bridal ceremonial of the Bedouins, the bridegroom
covers the bride with a special cloak known as "Aba" and speaks the following ritual
words: "Henceforth none save I shall cover thee!" (Quoted from Robert Eisler). We
have also found several fresh symbols, at least two of which I will tell you of.
According to Abraham (1922) a spider in dreams is a symbol of the mother, but of the
phallic mother, of whom we are afraid; so that the fear of spiders expresses dread of
mother-incest and horror of the female genitals. You know, perhaps, that the
mythological creation, Medusa's head, can be traced back to the same motif of fright
at castration. The other symbol I want to talk to you about is that of the bridge, which
has been explained by Ferenczi (1921 and 1922). First it means the male organ,
which unites the two parents in sexual intercourse; but afterwards it develops further
meanings which are derived from this first one. In so far as it is thanks to the male
organ that we are able to come into the world at all, out of the amniotic fluid, a
bridge becomes the crossing from the other world (the unborn state, the womb) to
this world (life); and, since men also picture death as a return to the womb (to the
water), a bridge also acquires the meaning of something that leads to death, and
finally, at a further remove from its original sense, it stands for transitions or
changes in condition generally. It tallies with this, accordingly, if a woman who has
not overcome her wish to be a man has frequent dreams of bridges that are too short
to reach the further shore. (From New Introductory Lessons on Psychoanalysis)

Methodology

The method used in this essay is quantitative method

“Descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it exists at

present. While analytical research is using facts or information already
available, and analysis these to make a critical evaluation of the material.
Thus, it can be concluded that analytical descriptive is conducted by
describing and analyzing the facts of the research data”. Kothari (2008: 3)

It means that Quantitative method are including collecting, analyzing,

understanding, and writing the results of a study. The data were collected to find the
issue then finally to be analyzed

Finding and Discussion

In her book, Laurie Anderson uses vary symbolism through her story, Speak.
The symbol that best represent the character of Melinda Sordino is tree, since tree is a
vast part of Melinda’s life. Ironically, the symbol has a meaning, the circumstance of
Melinda. The first pathetic painted tree she drawn in art class is a representation of
her life, it realizes her to accept the reality that she is a victim of raped.

The writer introduces tree to the audiences when Melinda attended her art
class for the first time. Melinda picked out the word of tree and was expected by the
teacher to make that object into art. She tried to turn it back, change it into another
because she assumed that tree is too easy to do. In fact, unfortunately, that easy
object, trees, was actually her shadow, because the trees themselves is symbolize
Melinda’s life. When the art class was running, Melinda drawn her first tree being hit
by lightning. That tree symbolize the beginning of the art journey. Melinda states “I
try to paint them so they are nearly dead, but not totally” (p. 30). This drawing
represents Melinda’s problem in identifying herself and symbolizing the pain. She
strives to draw the tree that represents her emotion and herself, and at the same time
dealing with the pain he suffers caused by Andy Evans.

Another symbol of tree reappears when Melinda found abandoned leaves in

her yard. She works her mind with the “dead leaves still clinging to the oak branches
by the street” (p. 167). Melinda is symbolized like that leaves because she is died
inside and try to find a safe heaven, just like the leaves struggle to grasp onto the
branches. The sick tree in her yard has a part of it which is dying which cause the
entire tree weaken and collapse. Her life after get raped just like the sick section of
the miserable tree, it broken at some aspects but ruin her entirely. Her father explains
to her, the tree could be saved because the damaged are being cut. Therefore, the tree
is able to grow again and be a strong tree without pain. The analogy of sick tree
represents how Melinda realizes that she could find her new self and start a new life
of being a strong young woman.

I also found Mr. Freeman trying to help Melinda develop an identity for
herself (p. 122) because he tells Melinda when she is struggling with herself, “the
next time you work on your trees. Think about love, or hate, or joy, or rage. When
people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time and walk through their
days with no idea who they are.” The trees Melinda paint symbolizes how she
suffered and grow throughout her freshman year in high school.

Conclusion

The analysis shows that the symbolism of tree is to represent Melinda Sordino
life at the same time. At the end of the story, Melinda finally found a way to live
again and bring the tree to life. She conquer her emotions, fear about the night she
was raped and suffer her lack of identify her life. Instead, by painting a tree, it
symbolizes herself and her healing.

References

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Talk Deakin University 30th August 2003. Trauma And Psychoanalysis
Roy F. Baumeister, Karen Dale, and Kristin L. Sommer. 1998. Freudian Defense
Mechanisms and Empirical Findings in Modern Social Psychology: Reaction Formation,
Projection, Displacement, Undoing, Isolation, Sublimation, and Denial. Case Western
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