Lenika Aguilar
Ms. Carol Humanities 9/16/14 An Optimistic Hannah Baker It was only thirteen people who changed Hannah’s perspective in life. “I was writing a letter to myself… hidden in a poem.” (pg.188) Hannah Baker, a suicide victim is the main character of the book Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. While reading the book, Hannah speaks through cassette tapes to people who changed her life. As she told her stories her tape victims bleed emotionally. Even though at any given moment listeners could’ve broke out of Hannah’s grip they just endured the intellectual torture. Hannah’s targets found a positive in the disgusting tapes. They smiled whenever they heard Hannah’s laugh, which was always sarcastic. Hannah was the opposite, usually turning positives into negatives. I strongly believe Hannah Baker could’ve found a way to pursue the happiness she needed. Clay Jensen, a shy high school student, was the strangest victim of Hannah’s tapes. Clay made Hannah happy, and she knew that but didn’t want to accept it. Once Hannah fully convinces herself that Clay can’t help her, she loses her humanity and sees a permanent solution to her temporary problems. Hannah had help she just didn’t want her classmates to see her as a weak and dependant teenage girl. Especially since her entire school thought she was a slut who was thirsty for attention. It was Hannah against the world, but if she tried hard enough she could’ve created her own universe. Hannah Baker really just needed her a safe space, that was built by herself. A safe space that was existent in her head, one that would keep her emotions in order. I understand Hannah Baker tried to stay on her feet but she eventually fell because someone pushed her, and the one who pushed her was herself. Her attempts to smile were weak and when she went out to find help she already had an excuse to not avoid someones helping hand. Her mind was limited to thoughts and she could’ve been more open minded to possibilities. Lots of events could have occurred if Hannah fought for the events she wanted most. Hannah was really just a human built off of excuses. A human that played hide and seek with happiness the wrong way. Hannah was always hiding and was never seeking happiness. |
Photo used under Creative Commons from Olga Kuba