Summary

Clay finds Tony waiting for him in the parking lot at Rosie’s Diner. Tony knows about Hannah’s tapes. Clay and Tony sit together in Tony’s car, and listen to Cassette 5, side A. This is cassette number nine, the story about Clay. Hannah wants Clay to listen to her tapes, because she wants him to hear her story.

The cassette describes an important party, that Clay and Hannah were both at. On the way to the party, Hannah walks past her old house. She stares at her childhood house, as an old man pulls out of the driveway, and continues driving down the street. Hannah has trouble accepting the fact that now another family lives in that house. Hannah leaves her old house hoping the party would perk her up.

The party was special because it was the night Hannah and Clay became closer. They talked, they laughed, and they shared a kiss. Hannah’s bad memories of past incidents filled her mind, and ruined her moment with Clay.

Analysis

The main characters struggle with friendship, past memories, and moving forward in life. The chapter emphasizes the idea that often people have no control over the events that happen in their lives. Just like in Cassettes 1-4, Cassette 5 continues with Hannah Baker’s story about her life that led to the reasons of her death. Cassette 5, side A, describes the 9^th event that caused Hannah to kill herself.

            The chapter starts with Clay listening to Cassette 5, side A. he listens to the tape with his friend Tony. Tony portrays the symbol of a supportive friend. Throughout the chapter Hannah emphasizes the idea of finding a good friend. She is desperately seeking help, but feels as if there is no one whom she can talk to. 

            Hannah deals with past memories as she visits her old house. Hannah walks up the T-shaped road that leads to her old house. The T-shaped-crossroad, symbolizes Hannah’s life becoming a crossroad. She does not know which way to turn to seek help.

At the party a special connection formed between Hannah and Clay. Hannah needed a friend to talk, and she felt she could trust Clay. Clay represents the support and comfort that Hannah was seeking.

Hannah reflects on past memories. She remembers her first kiss shared with her first boyfriend, Justin Foley. It was a wonderful first kiss, but was ruined by rumors. “A rumor based on a kiss ruined a memory that I hoped would be special. A rumor based on a kiss started a reputation that other people believed in and reacted to. And sometimes, a rumor based on a kiss has a snowball effect. A rumor, based on a kiss, is just the beginning.” (Page 30-31). These rumors symbolize loss of control. Hannah can not control the things the kids at school say about her.

            A continuous symbol described in this chapter is the idea of a snowball effect. The snowball gets bigger and rolls faster, just like Hannah’s problems and reasons for killing herself increase. Just like the rumors symbolize loss of control, the snowball continues the idea of having no control over the events that occur in life.