Jay Asher’s uses emotional impact and an invocation of pathos in order to inform readers about the dangers of bullying. In the story, Hannah Baker, a girl who committed suicide due to excessive bullying, created exclusive and postmortem audio cassette tapes explaining who caused her unfortunate outcome and what they did. These tapes were only to those involved in a chronological order in when they are mentioned in the tapes. Asher tries to help the reader understand how small events can pile up and create a much bigger snowball down the path. In the first tape, Hannah states, “So to back up a bit, this tape isn’t about why you did what you did, Alex. It’s about the repercussions of what you did. More specifically, it’s about the repercussions to me. It’s about those things you didn’t plan—things you couldn’t plan.” Asher’s point is that a small joke someone makes might help create something bigger down the line that is much worse than what that person originally intended to happen. And to further his point, in the book, Hannah says, “And what about you–the rest of you–did you notice the scars you left behind? No. Probably not. Because most of them can’t bee seen with the naked eye.” Asher is trying to say that most people do not have the empathy to even realize that they are adding to the “snowball” which I believe to be one of main reasons bullying can get out of hand.
I've heard a lot about this book, but I never really knew what it was truly about. However, after reading your post I felt extremely informed as to the general themes and how emotional the book is. It's interesting how you point out the detail in the book about how something that is seemingly *irrelevant* can have such an enormous impact on someone's state of mind. It's a reality that I don't stop to think about too often, and I think I'll definitely apply this idea throughout my life more now. Great job on the post!
Hello Patrick
I'm glad you are enjoying the book!
Suicide is a very heavy topic and I think it is really important that people are fully aware of how their words and actions can affect the oftentimes fragile lives of others. Personally, I find nothing to be sadder than suicide and it really is thought provoking and horrifying and unbelievably saddening to think that there are people out there who feel there is truly only one way to ALLEVIATE themselves: taking their own lives. It is good that this book appealed to your emotions and helped you understand what a suicidal person must be going through and I think it is important that everyone read this book or an equivalent for the sake of awareness.
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Jenn
1/29/2015 02:58:00 am
Hey Pat!
I also had a chance to check out this exquisite read! It's truly one of the better books that had a chance make me look beyond what's in front of me. It made me rethink everything I've ever done, and realize the visage of effects it could have on other people. The snowball effect you're talking about is very true in the book and in real life. I think as high school students we overlook the abject of our words and actions; a lesson that is very well taught in this book.
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