Thirteen Reasons Why

Content Warning: The following analysis contains discussions of suicide and sexual violence.

“The rules are pretty simple. There are only two. Rule number one: You listen. Number two: You pass it on. Hopefully, neither one will be easy for you.”

In laying out her rules, Hannah takes control of the narrative and her listeners. This tone of voice is deliberately contrasted with her emotional and poetic tone elsewhere. Hannah strives to make them feel guilty and feel the damage to their own reputations when the next person in line hears about and judges them.

“Because it may seem like a small role now, but it matters. In the end, everything matters.”

Asher comments that this message is what he most wants readers to take away from Hannah’s story: to recognize how deeply one’s actions, however innocuous to them, affect others. This quote epitomizes the novel’s theme that every action counts.

“New town. New school. And this time, I was going to be in control of how people saw me. After all, how often do we get a second chance?”

The use of anaphora with the word “new” makes this the pivotal concept in this passage: Hannah initially views Crestmont as a fresh start from past rumors. She optimistically wants others to see her true self.