Anger, Sadness and Regret
By: McKenzie Johnston
If something were to happen to a friend that would cause her to end her life right now because of what people said or did, should she let those few people know, what they did and how it affected her and led her to making her final decision? Hannah Baker did in Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher. Hannah lets everyone who ever hurt her and embarrass her know what they did by taping herself on thirteen different tapes. Each tape was about a different student and what each student did to affect Hannah’s decision. Hannah tells them how their mistakes and rumors led to the last thing that her young eyes saw: pills and too many of them. Her story evokes pain, heartbreak and a little spark of happiness. Thirteen Reasons Why just lets everyone know just how much rumors, actions and words can really affect a person.
Sadness is the tone that the author, Jay Asher, expresses at the beginning of this book. He brings out this emotion because he wants his reader to feel how the main character Clay Jenson who is listening to the tapes is feeling. Clay is having to hear for the first time how he is one of the thirteen reasons why Hannah Baker committed suicide. But before he can hear what he did, he has to listen to every other reason that trumps his. He hears how Hannah was tormented by normal high school boys and rumors.
Along with sadness, Clay feels regret. Clay Jenson was and has been in love with Hannah Baker for the past couple of years. He never admitted this to her. When reading this section I become frustrated with his character as I wished that he would have done something about his feelings. Why is Clay even listening to the tapes? Hannah liked him but would never tell him because she knew that because of her reputation he might reject her. But Clay saw past most of the reputation but was held up by peer pressure. When Clay was led to believe her reputation, Hannah believed that she was alone. The author did a very good job making her emotions feel like they are his reader’s emotions.
Depression comes up next as the reader listens to her final moments of life. The last few moments were spent at a party being tormented by boys who wanted more of her than she wanted to give. Having to listen to her final moments was very painful. The author does a very good job making his reader feel like her best friend and having to deal with the news of her loss. The reader is shocked and sad as Hannah makes a final decision on how she will end her life. An overdose on prescription medicine is what she chooses. I yell at the book telling her to say no with sadness, regret, depression and tears on my face and in my voice.
Depression, Anger, Regret and Sadness are the tones that are expressed throughout this book. Jay Asher makes his reader feel as if the reader is right there in the story as one of Hannah’s former best friends. The emotions come strong but sticking through this book will teach many things. It teaches how that one single rumor can turn into so much more and result in so much more than anyone would want to imagine.
