Thirteen Reasons Why

Author's Note: This is a essay about the novel Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher. I wrote this essay about how connectable the main character, Clay, is, and the ways I can connect with him. I would like feedback on my conclusion. Thanks!

How would you feel if a classmate committed suicide? For Clay, the primary character in Thirteen Reasons Why, his emotions varied from shock to horror. Since Hannah was always a quiet, seemingly oridindary girl, Clay never expected for her to take her life into her own hands, because it never looked like anything had happened that would warrant such a dractisic measure. If I was in Clay’s place, I’m positive that my perception of the situation would not have been unlike his. I wouldn’t have been able to grasp why she killed herself, and my wondering would never cease. Thirteen Reasons why, written by Jay Asher, is a mind engrossing novel that ponders life and its true meaning. 

At the start of the novel Thirteen Reasons Why, Clay is reeling from Hannah’s suicide. Though he can’t grasp the reasoning behind her taking her own life, he’s positive that he had nothing to do with it. How would it be possible that he could? Suddenly, a container holding thirteen video cassette tapes arrives in his mailbox. One of the thirteen tapes holds a recording explaining how Clay played an excessive part in Hannah’s untimely death. Clay doesn’t want to comprehend his component of the suicide, and wishes her secrets would have died along with her. This is a piece of Clay I definitely can connect with. If I was his place, the fear of discovering my piece of the puzzle more than likely would have been too terrifying to handle.

Even though not wanting to determine his role in Hannah’s ending of life seems hugely connectable, there is another moment in this novel I can associate with even more. When the temptation of listening to the recordings become too much for Clay to bear, he unintentionally sees a side of a teenager named Courtney he never knew, and never had a desire to know. Who would want to figure out the seemingly gentle-hearted, loving popular girl was a manipulative person that needed affection from everyone to feel whole, and would do anything to make Hannah feel that way about her? Once Clay discovers that fact, he confronts the situation head on by talking to Courtney about Hannah and the tapes. That’s exactly what I would have done in his place, and I admire his willingness to do so.     

Looking back at all of Clay’s actions, there’s no doubt that he is a quite connectable character. Almost every reader that comes into contact with this novel discovers a moment where you think that you would have done exactly what Clay did. For me, one of those moments was when Clay made the heartbreaking decision to listen to the recordings, and find the secrets. Though it would have been devastating, the truth is something I would have needed to find. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher, is an amazing story that helps you discover how even the tiniest of actions can affect a person in the largest of ways.