Who Should Speak?

Tori Sheffer

ENGW 1101

2/1/17

Prof. Young

Who Should Speak?

            In Friendswood, every chapter is signified by a new character that speaks leaving the reader to think, “Who should be speaking right now?” The beginning of the book you learn about all the significant characters that will play a part in the story we’re reading, but it also confuses the reader as to know who should speak. Though they intertwine, there are several plots in Friendswood with the characters all being pivotal in each other’s lives. Though all the characters that have their own chapters are important I feel as if the only character that should speak is Lee.

            I feel Lee should speak because her story is the one that mainly revolves around the theme of chemical dumping as well as responsibility. Her back story is the fact that her daughter died from the chemical dumping happening in Rosemont Field, plus her husband left, and what does she do? She decides to dedicate the rest of her life to finding a cure to the “wrong doing,” in the town to try and find the cause of her daughter’s death. She doesn’t care about anyone or anything, she just wants to find a reason to her daughter’s death and hope it doesn’t affect anyone else.

            Lee’s story is the one that, so far, has impacted me the most as a reader. Her admirable “doesn’t care about anyone or anything” attitude really resonates with me because she’ll do anything for her family, even if they’re not living. She could have her own story and deserves to be the soul speaker.