Tony is Clay’s school friend, though before Clay listens to the tapes, the two aren’t particularly close. Clay plans to borrow Tony’s Walkman from him so he can listen to the tapes, but he gets nervous about Tony finding out about the tapes and steals the Walkman instead. Eventually, Tony reveals to Clay that he has the second set of tapes, meaning he’s the one who could make Hannah’s story go public. By following every listener to make sure they listen to the tapes and pass them on, Tony shows that he values Hannah’s story, but also that he feels a sense of responsibility because he was the one who gave her the recording equipment that allowed her to make the tapes. He also proves himself a caring friend when he listens to Clay’s emotional outburst while they’re in Tony’s car together.
Tony Quotes in Thirteen Reasons Why
The Thirteen Reasons Why quotes below are all either spoken by Tony or refer to Tony. 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:
).
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:
Tony (speaker), Clay Jensen (speaker), Hannah Baker
Page Number and Citation:
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), Tony, Hannah Baker
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Tony Character Timeline in Thirteen Reasons Why
The timeline below shows where the character Tony appears in Thirteen Reasons Why. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Cassette 1: Side A
...decides to go to the first star on the map, but only after going to Tony’s house. Tony isn’t a close friend, but Clay knows where he lives and that he...
(full context)
Clay arrives at Tony’s house. Tony and his dad are working on his car. They greet Clay and ask...
(full context)
Cassette 4: Side A
In the present, Clay looks up to see Tony standing beside him. Tony asks him if the Walkman is his. Clay can’t tell if...
(full context)
Cassette 4: Side B
As Clay listens to Hannah’s tape, he sees Tony walking out the front door of Rosie’s. He’s confused that Tony didn’t say goodbye. Tony...
(full context)
Cassette 5: Side A
As Clay leaves Rosie’s, he hears Tony calling out to him. He walks over to Tony’s window. He’s afraid Tony wants to...
(full context)
Tony asks Clay which tape he was listening to in Rosie’s; Clay tells him it was...
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Hannah begins the tape by saying, “Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” As Clay listens, Tony yells to him, “It’s okay!” Clay’s head twitches with pain, and he feels his heart...
(full context)
...part of the story if she wants her own story to be complete. Clay asks Tony why he has to listen to this—why couldn’t Hannah skip him? But Tony says it...
(full context)
...them on. She ends by apologizing to Clay. Clay’s muscles ache and his eyes sting. Tony asks him if he’s okay. Clay says he misses Hannah, and Tony says he does,...
(full context)
Cassette 5: Side B
Clay suspects Tony has driven them down the same stretch of road several times since they left Rosie’s....
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...staring blankly. She holds his gaze. As Clay listens to this part of the story, Tony’s car pulls over at the party house. Clay throws the car door open and vomits...
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Clay pauses the tape and takes a series of deep breaths. Once again, he asks Tony why he has the second set of tapes. Tony looks at Clay and insists he...
(full context)
Cassette 6: Side A
Tony tells Clay that Hannah came over to his house. He describes that moment as his...
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On the night Hannah comes to Tony’s house to give him the bike, he tells her he can’t take it without giving...
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A few days after Tony gives Hannah the tape recorder, he arrives home to a package: a set of the...
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Tony tells Clay it was easy to figure out he had the tapes, because Clay stole...
(full context)
