Thirteen Reasons Why Respect and Reputation
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Respect and Reputation
- Chapter 3
<em>The truth.</em> (3.212-13)
At first, Hannah's tapes seem like a way for her to clear her reputation, but in many of the later stories she makes some unpleasant confessions. This helps us see that Hannah isn't interested in people thinking she was some kind of angel. She wants to set the record straight by telling the truth as she sees it.
I know what you are all thinking. Hannah Baker is a slut. (3.151)
I've heard so many stories I don't know which one is the most popular. But I do know which is the least popular.
The truth. (3.212-13)
At first, Hannah's tapes seem like a way for her to clear her reputation, but in many of the later stories she makes some unpleasant confessions. This helps us see that Hannah isn't interested in people thinking she was some kind of angel. She wants to set the record straight by telling the truth as she sees it.
<em>But eventually, as they always will, the rumors reached me. And everybody knows you can't disprove a rumor. </em>(3.222)
Is Hannah's attitude too defeatist? Is there a way she could have challenged the rumors about her or put a stop to them?
- Clay Jensen
"And she was new to the school, so the rumors overshadowed everything else I knew about her." (3.218)
Clay suggests that rumors stuck to Hannah because she was the new kid. But Clay has known Skye since at least middle school, and he apparently believes rumors about her, too.
- Chapter 5
- Hannah Baker
<em>For Jessica, it was easier to think of me as Bad Hannah than as the Hannah she got to know at Monet's. It was easier to accept. Easier to understand.</em>
<em>For her, the rumors needed to be true.</em> (5.117-18)The rumors about Hannah affect her relationships with both guys and girls. Girls like Jessica can use Hannah as an excuse when their relationships don't work out.
- Chapter 6
- Hannah Baker
<em>So who were you? I saw your height and your hair, but I couldn't see your face clearly enough. </em>
<em>Still, you gave yourself up, Tyler.</em>
<em>And for some reason, telling me you were nowhere made your eyes twitch and your forehead break into a sweat. </em>(6.210-11, 213)Other than the fact that Tyler is a photographer, his nervous response to her questioning is all the evidence Hannah has that he is the Peeping Tom. Do you think she's justified in accusing him on the tapes without having more proof?
- Chapter 8
With every side of every tape, an old memory gets turned upside down. A reputation twists into something I don't recognize. (8.146)
Hannah's tapes change the way Clay looks at all sorts of things: reputations no longer matter.
- Chapter 11
- Hannah Baker
<em>Clay, your reputation was deserved. But mine… mine was not. And there I was with you. Adding to my reputation. </em>(11.237)
Hannah is trying to explain why she turned away from Clay the night of the party. There seem to be two reasons: (1) she fears that Clay will think she's a "slut" if she goes any farther with him, and (2) she's afraid the love she shows him will turn into an ugly rumor or bad joke, like it did with Justin.
- Chapter 17
- Clay Jensen
But no matter when I go back, the fact remains, eventually I need to face the other people on the tapes. (17.1)
What do you think Clay means by this? Does he want to hear the other side of the story from the people on Hannah's list? Or does he want to confront them about how he treated Hannah? Or is it something completely different?
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