Thirteen Reasons Why Response
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is a controversial yet important novel for adolescents to read. In light of the controversy surrounding the Netflix adaptation of the novel, Thirteen Reasons Why has initiated global discussions regarding teenage depression, suicide, and bullying. However, the Netflix series drew a great amount of criticism due to the sensitive subject matter. For me, though, the Netflix adaptation could not have come at a better time. The first episode of the series aired just one month after one of my classmates committed suicide. It came as a massive shock to everyone who knew him. He was funny, sweet, and he always seemed cheerful in our shared German class. He was an actor, playing parts in many theatre productions, but he used those skills to hide his struggle with depression. None of us saw the signs, and when Thirteen Reasons Why came out, it initiated a conversation that helped my friends and I who were struggling with our classmate’s death learn how to recognize and help other people who are going through similar fights against mental illness. Our society does not talk about mental illness and suicide enough, and even though it is an uncomfortable topic to discuss, it is one that we must address for the health and safety of adolescents today. In my opinion, Thirteen Reasons Why is an excellent conversation starter, as long as it is properly handled.
Interestingly, when Thirteen Reasons Why came out, it was only truly adults who voiced strong criticisms of the show and the novel. Teenagers, instead, were often staunch supporters of the series. This is in part due to adults’ willful ignorance of the plight of teenage mental illness. When adults are told by teenagers that they are struggling with mental illness, the teenagers are often dismissed, or the adults trivialize the extent of the pain the teenagers feel. Another reason teenagers may have been attracted to Thirteen Reasons Why is due to Gen Z’s status as the “Columbine Generation” and the “Post-9/11 Generation”. Numerous studies have been conducted regarding members of Gen Z, and a recent poll found that “70 percent are worried about terrorism. Symptoms of depression and anxiety are way up among this generation. So are reports of self-harm” (Jessica Stillman). All one has to do in order to see the level of nihilism present among Gen Z members is click over to Twitter, where psychology experts say adolescents are increasingly using dark humor as a coping mechanism for dealing with mental illness, gun violence, and terrorism. Thirteen Reasons Why itself initiated a very popular meme, where teenagers would respond with, “Welcome to your tape,” to any minor inconvenience. Although many adults viewed this as insensitive, adolescents knew it was part of the nihilistic coping mechanisms Gen Z has developed to combat the stress faced by growing up in today’s world. If nothing else, Thirteen Reasons Why forced adults to address that teenagers are struggling with mental illness on a very large scale, and it forced adults to acknowledge that this mental illness is not something to be ignored.
While the television adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why was massively controversial, the novel was less universally known, resulting in less criticism being directed towards it initially. However, Jay Asher was faced with mass criticism as the show’s popularity grew and the focus shifted towards the initial novel. Despite this, Asher stood by his novel and for good reason. Thirteen Reasons Why tackles a difficult subject in a period when nobody wanted to discuss teenage suicide and depression. Although the novel is certainly exaggerated in some regards, it is an excellent conversation starter that helps initiate conversations regarding mental health. Despite what critics would have you believe, Asher’s portrayal of adolescence is very accurate, as high schoolers, especially those with mental health problems or anxiety, often feel as if they, “Want to collapse. [They] want to fall on the sidewalk and drag [themselves] into the ivy” (Asher 3). Although it is very unlikely that a teenager would create a series of tapes detailing exactly why they decided to commit suicide, most of this novel is very accurate in depicting the struggles faced by teenagers with mental illness.
Asher’s writing was beautiful, from the powerful quotes to the accurate depictions of teenage cruelty. Because of this, combined with the captivating storyline and important discussions surrounding this novel, I would certainly teach this novel in a classroom. Children in Spartanburg County as young as sixth grade are committing suicide, so we must stop ignoring the struggles and pain children are going through. Although Thirteen Reasons Why is a very controversial novel, it initiates conversations that can be very difficult to discuss otherwise. It can make adolescents feel as if they are not alone. It can show adults what they have to do to help teenagers. Depression and suicide are never going to simply go away, so instead, we must educate ourselves on the signs and fight to help those that need it.
Interestingly, when Thirteen Reasons Why came out, it was only truly adults who voiced strong criticisms of the show and the novel. Teenagers, instead, were often staunch supporters of the series. This is in part due to adults’ willful ignorance of the plight of teenage mental illness. When adults are told by teenagers that they are struggling with mental illness, the teenagers are often dismissed, or the adults trivialize the extent of the pain the teenagers feel. Another reason teenagers may have been attracted to Thirteen Reasons Why is due to Gen Z’s status as the “Columbine Generation” and the “Post-9/11 Generation”. Numerous studies have been conducted regarding members of Gen Z, and a recent poll found that “70 percent are worried about terrorism. Symptoms of depression and anxiety are way up among this generation. So are reports of self-harm” (Jessica Stillman). All one has to do in order to see the level of nihilism present among Gen Z members is click over to Twitter, where psychology experts say adolescents are increasingly using dark humor as a coping mechanism for dealing with mental illness, gun violence, and terrorism. Thirteen Reasons Why itself initiated a very popular meme, where teenagers would respond with, “Welcome to your tape,” to any minor inconvenience. Although many adults viewed this as insensitive, adolescents knew it was part of the nihilistic coping mechanisms Gen Z has developed to combat the stress faced by growing up in today’s world. If nothing else, Thirteen Reasons Why forced adults to address that teenagers are struggling with mental illness on a very large scale, and it forced adults to acknowledge that this mental illness is not something to be ignored.
While the television adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why was massively controversial, the novel was less universally known, resulting in less criticism being directed towards it initially. However, Jay Asher was faced with mass criticism as the show’s popularity grew and the focus shifted towards the initial novel. Despite this, Asher stood by his novel and for good reason. Thirteen Reasons Why tackles a difficult subject in a period when nobody wanted to discuss teenage suicide and depression. Although the novel is certainly exaggerated in some regards, it is an excellent conversation starter that helps initiate conversations regarding mental health. Despite what critics would have you believe, Asher’s portrayal of adolescence is very accurate, as high schoolers, especially those with mental health problems or anxiety, often feel as if they, “Want to collapse. [They] want to fall on the sidewalk and drag [themselves] into the ivy” (Asher 3). Although it is very unlikely that a teenager would create a series of tapes detailing exactly why they decided to commit suicide, most of this novel is very accurate in depicting the struggles faced by teenagers with mental illness.
Asher’s writing was beautiful, from the powerful quotes to the accurate depictions of teenage cruelty. Because of this, combined with the captivating storyline and important discussions surrounding this novel, I would certainly teach this novel in a classroom. Children in Spartanburg County as young as sixth grade are committing suicide, so we must stop ignoring the struggles and pain children are going through. Although Thirteen Reasons Why is a very controversial novel, it initiates conversations that can be very difficult to discuss otherwise. It can make adolescents feel as if they are not alone. It can show adults what they have to do to help teenagers. Depression and suicide are never going to simply go away, so instead, we must educate ourselves on the signs and fight to help those that need it.
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