Melinda Is A Tree

In art class, Melinda picks the word “tree” and has to draw a tree for the rest of the school year. Her art teacher, Mr. Freeman states, “You will each pick a piece of paper out of the globe...You will spend the rest of the year learning how to turn that object into a piece of art.” (Anderson 12) One day, Melinda decides to “[paint] watercolours of trees that have been hit by lightning.” (Anderson 30). The tree symbolizes Melinda, Melinda is the tree.

Ever since the summer party, people from Melinda’s grade, including her friends, have been ignoring her. She paints trees, not only because it is an art assignment, but because it is a way of escaping reality. In my painting, the tree is being struck by lightning, “they are nearly dead, but not totally” (Anderson 31). The lightning represents words and actions from her peers that hurt her: “The girl behind me jams her knees into my back. They are as sharp as her fingernails.” (Anderson 29), “...I am accidentally knocked down three rows of bleachers.” (Anderson 30). Although she is wounded and hurt, she is not done yet, she is still trying her best to hold on. The tree has a delicate structure, and with the lighting striking,
This helps form the mood because it shows that Melinda is feeling gloomy, and lonely, Lightning storms are powerful against a small, weak tree, which goes to show that the power of the insults thrown at her, take a humongous toll on her. Melinda might put on a brave face, but all the harsh words are wearing her down until she is weak and tired. I believe that Melinda really does want help from others, but she’s too afraid of asking for it. She is really good at hiding what she thinks and feels, “it is easier to not say anything...nobody really wants to hear what you have to say.” (Anderson 9). In the painting, her screams are lost in the wind, and in school, her voice is often unheard in a crowd of