13 Reasons Why: Symbolism Applied to the Life and Death of a Teenage Girl

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Throughout Jay Asher’s novel 13 Reasons Why there are a number of different symbols used throughout that were used to represent a number of different themes, ideas and qualities. One use of imagery in Asher’s novel is the blue nail polish. The main character Hannah, left a number of tapes explained the reasoning behind her suicide, each numbered in blue nail polish. The very last time Hannah saw Clay (also the last day of her life) she was wearing this significant blue nail polish. In the novel, Clay recalls the moment, “We almost bumped into each other. But your eyes were down so you didn't know it was me. And together, we said it. "I'm sorry." And there in your eyes, what was it? Sadness? Pain? You moved around me and tried pushing your hair away from your face. Your fingernails were dark blue. I watched you walk down the long hallway, with people knocking into me. But I didn't care.”(Asher 259) At this point, during the early development of the novel, Clay had no idea of Hannah’s decision, she had already mailed the tapes to Justin Foley. Hannah uses the same nail polish to number her tapes that read her last words, as she wears on her last day on earth. This shows readers that Hannah was very set in her decision to commit suicide, and that with decisions like that, when they become finalized, they become irreversible as well. In addition to Asher’s strong use of symbolism, one may find a meaning behind the scar on main character Hannah’s face. On Hannah’s forehead, there is said to be a scar. Not just a physical one, but an emotional one as well. The mark is left by Jessica Davis who punches and scratches Hannah over her eye in result of teenage jealousy and false accusations. The text reads, “"'Hannah […], I know the rumors'"(Asher 68 ). This scar is symbolic for a number of people, it all bring different ideas and memories processed by different characters. To

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