5 ways Hannah Baker helped us learn from our actions
Hannah Baker stated the 13 reasons she committed suicide. As she
explains what each person did that affected her, it surfaces that many of her
reasons are things we all do often. After seeing the consequences of the
actions, we can see how we could better our self.
1. The after math of rumors
Since Hannah made the Who’s Hot list, boys have been eyeing her
more often. After a rumor circulates around the school of what Hannah and her
first kiss, Justin did at the park, boys begin to take advantage of her. After
Justin’s lie spun off into other things, Hannah had to experience the
consequences of the rumor. Marcus Cooley attempted to sexually harass Hannah,
Tyler Down takes photos of Hannah in her bedroom, Bryce Walker sexually abuses
Hannah. “But eventually, as they always will, the rumors reached me. And
everybody knows you can’t disprove a rumor.” (Asher, 222). The fact Hannah
tried to disprove the rumors about her, she found it to be no use, so as she
continued being one of the only to know the actual truth, she continued being
the mouse and the others as the snake.
2. The definition of being a true friend
Hannah never had a friend to turn to; her “friends” would ride to
a party and then leave once the two hit the door. They would leave Hannah alone
even though they’re aware that’s the last thing that should happen. Hannah’s
friends forget about olly-olly-oxen-free, and act as if they don’t know Hannah
at all. All she needed was a real friend who she could turn and talk to about
these sort of things; how she felt. “I wanted people to trust me, despite
everything they’d heard…” (Asher, 199).
3. Ignoring a topic, means you help the opposing side
Hannah makes Clay leave her when she’s upset, and soon after he’s
gone Bryce Walker lead Jessica Davis into the room. As Hannah sat in the
closet, she heard how Jessica was being raped by Bryce, and she knew Justin
Foley was standing guard on the door, but neither of them were taking the
chance to prevent the assault. “Think about it. He raped a girl and would leave
town in a second if he knew… well… if he knew that we knew.” (Asher, 91). Hannah
had the opportunity to stop Bryce from what he was doing, and so did Justin,
but no one did anything.
4. Take responsibility
Hannah speaks about Jenny Kurtz in cassette 6, how she offered
Hannah a ride home from a party. When Hannah finally agreed, Jenny was reckless
and had an accident where she knocks a stop sign over. Jenny tries to convince
Hannah that it’s no big deal; she doesn't need to call a report, so she kicked
Hannah out of the car. Later in the evening there was a wreck. Because of the
stop sign. Because Jenny didn’t take responsibility of her actions and call the
police. The responsibility, or lack thereof, caused the loss of a teenage boy. “We’re
all to blame,” [Tony] says. “At least a little.” (Asher, 110).
5. Speak up
Throughout the book, Clay realizes he should have tried to speak
to Hannah more than lie in the background of her life. Clay obviously liked
her, and vice versa. As Clay continues to listen to the suicide tapes, he
notices how important one conversation could have made; that Hannah just needed
someone to trust. Hannah had no one to turn to about her emotions, no friends
or family she could talk about it with. Clay noticed the differences in her
appearance, and how they screamed she was thinking of taking her own life. Clay
and Hannah’s teacher even passed out a Suicide Prevention/Awareness paper to
the class, and there was number one: a sudden change in appearance. Yet Clay
still didn’t speak up.
Hannah Baker unfortunately, took her life. But in her explanations
she had mentioned things that were very familiar with many typical teenagers.
These are the five things we could do differently, that could have a big
impact. If we could change just a few things, like listed above, we could
change a life. We could keep another suicide from happening again.
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