Ted Talk: The Power Of Introverts By Susan Cain
There are people in our lives who have helped us grow. In the summer before freshman year in high school Melinda Sordino was raped at a party. After calling the police she was left without friends or dignity. She isolates herself not knowing what to do. In Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda grows in many ways throughout the book.
In this current generation depression is becoming more and more prevalent in impressionable teenagers. This issue of depression is also an important theme in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson in which the main character Melinda tries to overcome after a traumatic summer party. Throughout the novel there are many displays and signs of Melinda's depression. Of these signs the three most noticeable include her low self-esteem which is seen in every one of her decisions, habits of isolation/social withdrawal at school and even at home, and self harm. She unveils these signs of depression with every test and challenge she faces.
The theme of self growth and isolation can be seen throughout the novel Speak (1999) by Laurie Halse Anderson, which follows the main protagonist, Melinda Sordino through her freshman year. When Melinda is first introduced, she mentions a secret that she is afraid to talk to anyone about. Melinda later reveals to the readers that she was raped by a high school senior at an end of summer party. Everyone at school acts hostile towards Melinda for calling the cops and ruining what was the best night of their lives, unbeknown to them, that night still haunts her dreams. This causes Melinda to become isolated from everyone, as they only see her as the freak who called the cops.
Extroverts can be some of the best people you meet. They have plenty to offer and thrive at the attention of others. However, being introverted can be just as great. In a society where being extroverted is the ideal, it can be very difficult to be an introvert. Susan Cain argues in her Ted Talk, “The Power of Introverts”, that introverts can share many brilliant ideas with the world and should be encouraged and celebrated for who they are.
In the article, Editorial: Program helps guide victims of assaults on road to recovery, by the Janesville Gazette, The Sexual Assault Recovery Program says only between 5 percent and 20 percent of victims report the attacks. In the novel Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda is the main character in the novel and is affected by sexual assault herself. Melinda is one of the 5 to 20 percent who stay silent after she was sexually assaulted by who Melinda calls “IT”, Andy Evans. Anderson uses trees as motifs to support the theme of how Melinda’s social life is as the school year progresses.
“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you're not.” (Andre Gide) In the book Speak By: Laurie Halse Anderson the main character Melinda calls the cops at a party over the summer. When school starts Melinda as a freshman is hated for stopping the party. What they don’t know is why Melinda called the cops.
These people are the listeners and thinkers as opposed to the more outgoing people who earned the name extroverts. In the second chapter, Cain identifies common misconceptions about introverts and disproves them. In one instance she debunks the common myth that introverts are not good
Depression isn’t typically something that is capable of being physically seen. Those who have it might show signs, but it requires a lot for someone to look into them, and discover what that person is going through. In the novel Speak written by Laurie Halse Anderson, symbolism is used to develop an unspoken theme of depression. This is done so through the janitor’s closet, the turkey sculpture, and the constant mentioning of trees. Depression can cause people to alienate themselves and their thoughts from others.
In the book Speak, written by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda Sordino, a 9th grader at Merryweather High School, called the cops during Kyle Rodger’s end-of-summer party. She had a good reason to call the cops, but because she busted the party, everyone at school hates her. She gets bullied all the time, and her ‘friends’ avoid her without trying to find out what happened. So, in the beginning of the book, Melinda is an outcast in the school. After a short time, Melinda meets Heather, who transferred from another school.
Most people think of heroes as brave, smart, and strong people. However, a person does not require these qualities to be considered a hero. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and vary in personalities. It is no fun having a hero who is the same as everyone else. In fact, they might not even be a brave person.
Normal days for Evan included taking anxiety medicine, watching Netflix, and being interrogated by his mother. Evan had graduated high school early by earning as many high school credits as he could, in middle school. However, this caused even more anxiety to be pushed onto him. Since he was only fourteen, he took college courses online to begin the practice of law early.
After reading Susan Cain’s “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” about introversion, the way in which I viewed not only myself, but the world, would be challenged. As an introvert, I prefer to observation and quietly think instead of vocally expressing myself. I enjoy times of solitude in which I can collect my thoughts, play the piano, practice magic tricks, or read. Growing up, I did not know of introversion, and therefore could not distinguish between what is known as shyness and introversion. I was confused – I believed myself shy because I kept to myself often and enjoyed my alone time, but I equally expressing myself more and acting the opposite when I was around close companions.
The audience that Cain is reaching most likely introverts, however we all can learn to accept introverts and their unique ways. Cain establishes her credibility by discussing how she has always fallen toward the introverted end of the spectrum, and she has dedicated approximately seven years of her life to writing her book “The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.”
Extroverts will likely recognize the behavior described in their friends and family, and be reminded that while extroversion certainly has much to offer, so does introversion. This is a book that intends to improve all aspects of life through appreciation of diverse skills and tendencies, a book that simultaneously calls out the flaws in our culture and shows us the way to fix them. This is a book for everyone, loud or
Explorations of the Introverted Adventuress After recovering from professional burnout and surviving the mental strain of being a university student as a mid-thirty-something adult, I packed it all in and left my beautiful Canada to gain cultural experiences and clear out my brain. I’ve always been drawn to travel and adventure, however, as an introvert I prefer to be on the edge of the crowd where I can safely observe the chaos from the safety of my bar stool or that cute little table in the corner. My blogs are all written in the perspective of an introverted, single-female, feminist, and germaphobe with humour, kindness, and a “why not?” attitude. I enjoy sharing stories of all my experiences and the tricks I’ve learnt on how to manage
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