Suicide occurs when an individual, in a seemingly hopeless conflict with the world, decides to end their suffering in what they consider the only way out. Teenage years are turmoil for most, as they require the learning of new social roles, the development of new relationships and decision making about the future. The pressure to adapt to an ever-increasing set of social responsibilities may be overwhelming to the developing mind of a teenager and lead to thoughts of suicide. These often-troubled stages in the life of an adolescent are exemplified in the novel Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Hannah Baker, a 16-year-old student, constantly suffered through ridicule and experienced intense psychological pain, leading her to commit suicide. A common theme throughout the novel …show more content…
Specifically, Hannah’s decision to commit suicide stemmed from her feelings of betrayal, notorious reputation and the sexual objectification she faced. The gossip and rumors that circulated about Hannah, often by the people she trusted and considered friends, were forms of betrayal leading to her suicide. She continually opened up to people, sharing with them her secrets, inner thoughts and emotions, but she immediately became a target of the student body. The first of these betrayals came from Justin Foley, a senior who was Hannah’s first kiss. Justin made up a rumor that misrepresented what really happened between them which, “ruined a memory that [Hannah] hoped would be special” (Asher 30). Since Hannah placed so much significance in this kiss, she became emotionally vulnerable and trusting of Justin. He repaid that trust by spreading false rumors about what occurred between them by embellishing their private experience. Even though Justin’s betrayal seemed to have such a large impact on Hannah’s reputation, it was the first of many events to come. He