Jay Asher's Hierarchy In 13 Reasons Why

Jay Asher’s novel 13 Reasons Why puts into perspective how intensely teenagers follow the idea of a hierarchy in schools. After first completing the novel I found myself left with several questions. Such as, why are kids so mean to each other? Why do people worry so much about who they're seen with? Why is everyone always seeking revenge?. For example in tape 2 when Hannah discuss how Alex creating the hot or not list to get back at Jessica, left Hannah friendless and miserable, “But I didn’t need it spun around, because the first time I read that paper it was upside down on Jimmy’s desk: WHO’S HOT/ WHO’S NOT.” (Asher 64) This quote shows how when one person seeks revenge against someone it doesn’t just affect them, but also everyone else around
them. Alex saying that Hannah had a better butt than Jessica didn’t only negatively hurt Jessica. His judgments and tricks also hurt Hannah, and even put a target on her back.
On page 141 Hannah is waiting for her seemingly innocent date to start with Marcus. Once he arrives however, it is evident to see that Alex’s revenge planned for Jessica only ever hurts Hannah. “There was your hand, on my knee. From out of nowhere. The same way I was grabbed in the liquor store.” (Asher) This innocent between Marcus and Hannah once again shows how someone's idea for revenge ended up hurting the innocent party. Alex’s revenge made Hannah and Jessica end their freindship, and Hannah was groped by not only Bryce, but also Marcus. Overall 13 Reasons Why helped me to understand that when people hold grudges and set out to sabotage others their only hurting one person, their hurting others along the way.