In Dante’s narrative poem Inferno there are nine circles of hell.
Limbo, lust, gluttony, hoarders and spendthrifts, wrathful, heresy, violence,
fraud, and treachery. After watching the recent season of 13 Reasons Why, I couldn’t help but contrast it with Inferno. Because for the teens in 13 Reasons Why, high school can feel
like an unpleasant field trip through Dante’s nine circles. I was familiar with
the show and its first season when the show’s narrator, Hannah Baker, ended her
own life after enduring bullying from her cruel peers. But this second season had
me thinking, is high school really this
dark now? I hope it isn’t. Season two of 13 Reasons Why was darker than the first and painfully disturbing.
I was disappointed with the things that happened, the conclusion, and the cliffhanger
and I wonder if there’ll ever be salvation, justice, or peace for the show’s
young teens and sadly, any teenagers dealing with the issues the show portrays,
such as bullying, sexual assault, drug use, violence, and the high school “code
of silence” that teens have to protect their friends and bullies. I’m also
aware that many people have chosen not to watch the show due to its subject
matters, but there’s no denying that it hits hard issues that today’s teenagers
may be dealing with. Being open to discuss these controversial issues sparks conversations
and these conversations are critical to have. I had some rough times in high
school but never at the capacity like the characters on 13 Reasons Why. Who knew high school could be so tough? I know the
show is fictional, but for those coping with its realities, what can be done to
change things for the better?