Q: What is the significance of the concluding line [of “Speech Sounds”] ?
Up until the very last line of the story, we’re led to assume that Rye is unable to speak due to the illness affecting her reading and writing patterns. So it is a bit of a plot twist to us, since we only got to understand her through an internal monologue of her day attempting to travel.
It’s more significant in that she’s finally able to verbally communicate with someone without any violent or primal actions following after. Throughout the entire story, the lack of any verbal communications leads to violence, death and overall creation of chaotic scenarios. However, in the wake of the violent shoot out between the anonymous woman, her husband, and Obsidian which leads to them all dying, has no communication other than some grunts from Obsidian. However, the children come in silently weeping over the death of their mother and start to speak to Rye, it’s almost like a beacon of light and hope for the future.
Rye’s speaking is like a trusting measure but also like a guiding light, helping these kids who are gifted in speaking towards a more hopeful future for them all.
Womens Lit. Blog 