Thirteen Reasons Why

by

Jay Asher

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Thirteen Reasons Why makes teaching easy.

Clay Jensen Character Analysis

Clay is the novel’s narrator and Hannah Baker’s love interest. As he listens to Hannah’s tapes, he wanders through their small town, piecing together his memories with Hannah’s stories. At first, Clay doesn’t think he deserves to be on Hannah’s list: he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong, and he also thinks Hannah is being unfair by listing the other names. But as he continues listening, he begins to understand that each person on Hannah’s list impacted her deeply. Even when he learns that he’s only on the list because Hannah loved him, he still considers himself partially at fault for her death. While some of the others on Hannah’s list, like Marcus and Alex, would rather throw stones at Tyler’s window than reflect on their own behavior, Clay’s willingness to take responsibility for his actions sets him apart from them. Clay represents the hopeful side of the novel by showing that people can learn from tragic events. When he notices that his middle-school crush, Skye, is behaving similarly to Hannah, he reaches out to her, because Hannah’s story taught him that his help could make a vital difference.

Clay Jensen Quotes in Thirteen Reasons Why

The Thirteen Reasons Why quotes below are all either spoken by Clay Jensen or refer to Clay Jensen. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Rumors and Reputation Theme Icon
).
Cassette 1: Side A Quotes

“So what’s going on, Clay?”

I repeat his words in my head. What’s going on? What’s going on? Oh, well, since you asked, I got a bunch of tapes in the mail today from a girl who killed herself. Apparently, I had something to do with it. I’m not sure what that is, so I was wondering if I could borrow your Walkman to find out.

“Not much,” I say.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Tony (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 1: Side B Quotes

A brass bell jingles when I open the door. The same bell Hannah listened to whenever she came in for a candy fix. Instead of letting it swing shut behind me, I hold the edge of the door and slowly push it shut, watching it ring the bell again.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 48
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 2: Side B Quotes

I think I need to finish them, and finish them tonight.

But should I? In one night? Or should I find my story, listen to it, then just enough of the next tape to see who I’m supposed to pass them off to?

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 69
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 3: Side A Quotes

“And you?” I ask. “What did you do?”

For a moment, his eyes stare through me. Then he blinks.

“Nothing. It’s ridiculous,” he says. “I don’t belong on those tapes. Hannah just wanted an excuse to kill herself.”

I let the rock drop onto the sidewalk. It was either that or smash it in his face right there.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Marcus Cooley (speaker), Hannah Baker, Tyler Down
Page Number: 110
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 3: Side B Quotes

If you ever caught me reading one of those teen magazines, I swear, it wasn’t for the makeup tips. It was for the surveys.

Because you never wore makeup, Hannah. You didn’t need it.

Fine, some of the hair and makeup tips were helpful.

You wore makeup?

Related Characters: Hannah Baker (speaker), Clay Jensen (speaker)
Page Number: 120
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 4: Side A Quotes

“Did you order yet?”

I swivel around. Mom sits on the stool next to me and pulls out a menu. Beside her, on the counter, is Hannah’s shoebox.

“Are you staying?” I ask.

If she stays, we can talk. I don’t mind. It would be nice to free my thoughts for a while. To take a break.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Clay’s Mom (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 151
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 4: Side B Quotes

Why, whenever anyone saw us, did I pretend it meant nothing? We were working, that’s what I wanted them to believe. Not hanging out. Just working.

Why?

Because Hannah had a reputation. A reputation that scared me.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 180
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 5: Side A Quotes

Two people—me and him—one house. Yet he drove away with no idea of his link to me, the girl on the sidewalk. And for some reason, at that moment, the air felt heavy. Filled with loneliness. And that loneliness stayed with me through the rest of the night.

Even the best moments of the night were affected by that one incident—by that nonincident—in front of my old house. His lack of interest in me was a reminder. Even though I had a history in that house, it didn’t matter. You can’t go back to how things were.

Related Characters: Hannah Baker (speaker), Clay Jensen, The Elderly Man
Page Number: 206
Explanation and Analysis:

The only thing that’s not fair are these tapes, Hannah, because I was there for you. We were talking. You could have said anything. I would have listened to absolutely anything.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 211
Explanation and Analysis:

How many times had I let myself connect with someone only to have it thrown back in my face?

Everything seemed good, but I knew it had the potential to be awful. Much, much more painful than the others.

Related Characters: Hannah Baker (speaker), Clay Jensen, Justin Foley, Marcus Cooley, Ryan Shaver
Page Number: 213
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 6: Side A Quotes

“Honestly. Thank you,” I say. And when I say it, I mean it for more than just the ride. For everything. For how he reacted when I broke down and cried. For trying to make me laugh on the most horrible night of my life.

It feels good knowing someone understands what I’m listening to, what I’m going through. Somehow, it makes it not as scary to keep listening.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker, Tony
Page Number: 239
Explanation and Analysis:

I want to look back. To look over my shoulder and see the Stop sign with huge reflective letters, pleading with Hannah. Stop!

But I keep facing forward, refusing to see it as more than it is. It’s a sign. A stop sign on a street corner. Nothing more.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker, Jenny Kurtz/The Cheerleader
Page Number: 250
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 7: Side A Quotes

I’m walking down the hall.

Her voice is clear. It’s louder.

His door is closed behind me. It’s staying closed.

A pause.

He’s not coming.

I press my face hard against the bars. They feel like a vise tightening against my skull the further I push.

He’s letting me go.

Related Characters: Hannah Baker (speaker), Clay Jensen (speaker), Mr. Porter
Related Symbols: The Rocket Slide
Page Number: 279
Explanation and Analysis:
The Next Day: After Mailing the Tapes Quotes

A flood of emotion rushes into me. Pain and anger. Sadness and pity. But most surprising of all, hope.

I keep walking.

Skye’s footsteps are growing louder now. And the closer I get to her, the faster I walk, and the lighter I feel. My throat begins to relax.

Two steps behind her, I say her name.

“Skye.”

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker, Skye
Page Number: 278
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Thirteen Reasons Why LitChart as a printable PDF.
Thirteen Reasons Why PDF

Clay Jensen Quotes in Thirteen Reasons Why

The Thirteen Reasons Why quotes below are all either spoken by Clay Jensen or refer to Clay Jensen. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Rumors and Reputation Theme Icon
).
Cassette 1: Side A Quotes

“So what’s going on, Clay?”

I repeat his words in my head. What’s going on? What’s going on? Oh, well, since you asked, I got a bunch of tapes in the mail today from a girl who killed herself. Apparently, I had something to do with it. I’m not sure what that is, so I was wondering if I could borrow your Walkman to find out.

“Not much,” I say.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Tony (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 1: Side B Quotes

A brass bell jingles when I open the door. The same bell Hannah listened to whenever she came in for a candy fix. Instead of letting it swing shut behind me, I hold the edge of the door and slowly push it shut, watching it ring the bell again.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 48
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 2: Side B Quotes

I think I need to finish them, and finish them tonight.

But should I? In one night? Or should I find my story, listen to it, then just enough of the next tape to see who I’m supposed to pass them off to?

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 69
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 3: Side A Quotes

“And you?” I ask. “What did you do?”

For a moment, his eyes stare through me. Then he blinks.

“Nothing. It’s ridiculous,” he says. “I don’t belong on those tapes. Hannah just wanted an excuse to kill herself.”

I let the rock drop onto the sidewalk. It was either that or smash it in his face right there.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Marcus Cooley (speaker), Hannah Baker, Tyler Down
Page Number: 110
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 3: Side B Quotes

If you ever caught me reading one of those teen magazines, I swear, it wasn’t for the makeup tips. It was for the surveys.

Because you never wore makeup, Hannah. You didn’t need it.

Fine, some of the hair and makeup tips were helpful.

You wore makeup?

Related Characters: Hannah Baker (speaker), Clay Jensen (speaker)
Page Number: 120
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 4: Side A Quotes

“Did you order yet?”

I swivel around. Mom sits on the stool next to me and pulls out a menu. Beside her, on the counter, is Hannah’s shoebox.

“Are you staying?” I ask.

If she stays, we can talk. I don’t mind. It would be nice to free my thoughts for a while. To take a break.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Clay’s Mom (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 151
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 4: Side B Quotes

Why, whenever anyone saw us, did I pretend it meant nothing? We were working, that’s what I wanted them to believe. Not hanging out. Just working.

Why?

Because Hannah had a reputation. A reputation that scared me.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 180
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 5: Side A Quotes

Two people—me and him—one house. Yet he drove away with no idea of his link to me, the girl on the sidewalk. And for some reason, at that moment, the air felt heavy. Filled with loneliness. And that loneliness stayed with me through the rest of the night.

Even the best moments of the night were affected by that one incident—by that nonincident—in front of my old house. His lack of interest in me was a reminder. Even though I had a history in that house, it didn’t matter. You can’t go back to how things were.

Related Characters: Hannah Baker (speaker), Clay Jensen, The Elderly Man
Page Number: 206
Explanation and Analysis:

The only thing that’s not fair are these tapes, Hannah, because I was there for you. We were talking. You could have said anything. I would have listened to absolutely anything.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number: 211
Explanation and Analysis:

How many times had I let myself connect with someone only to have it thrown back in my face?

Everything seemed good, but I knew it had the potential to be awful. Much, much more painful than the others.

Related Characters: Hannah Baker (speaker), Clay Jensen, Justin Foley, Marcus Cooley, Ryan Shaver
Page Number: 213
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 6: Side A Quotes

“Honestly. Thank you,” I say. And when I say it, I mean it for more than just the ride. For everything. For how he reacted when I broke down and cried. For trying to make me laugh on the most horrible night of my life.

It feels good knowing someone understands what I’m listening to, what I’m going through. Somehow, it makes it not as scary to keep listening.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker, Tony
Page Number: 239
Explanation and Analysis:

I want to look back. To look over my shoulder and see the Stop sign with huge reflective letters, pleading with Hannah. Stop!

But I keep facing forward, refusing to see it as more than it is. It’s a sign. A stop sign on a street corner. Nothing more.

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker, Jenny Kurtz/The Cheerleader
Page Number: 250
Explanation and Analysis:
Cassette 7: Side A Quotes

I’m walking down the hall.

Her voice is clear. It’s louder.

His door is closed behind me. It’s staying closed.

A pause.

He’s not coming.

I press my face hard against the bars. They feel like a vise tightening against my skull the further I push.

He’s letting me go.

Related Characters: Hannah Baker (speaker), Clay Jensen (speaker), Mr. Porter
Related Symbols: The Rocket Slide
Page Number: 279
Explanation and Analysis:
The Next Day: After Mailing the Tapes Quotes

A flood of emotion rushes into me. Pain and anger. Sadness and pity. But most surprising of all, hope.

I keep walking.

Skye’s footsteps are growing louder now. And the closer I get to her, the faster I walk, and the lighter I feel. My throat begins to relax.

Two steps behind her, I say her name.

“Skye.”

Related Characters: Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker, Skye
Page Number: 278
Explanation and Analysis: