Kathleen Dow
1st hour
The Significance of Music in High Fidelity
In Nick Hornby’s novel, High Fidelity, the main character Rob is a pop music
junkie and record store owner who has just been dumped by his latest girlfriend, Laura.
Both depressed and relieved about the split, Rob finds himself writing off the break-up as
not making the top five lists of his most memorable splits and embarks on a journey to
figure out his love life. Whether he is consuming himself in his record store with pals
Barry and Dick or dating a singer named Marie because of her record contract, music
seems to not only be the hobby which Rob hides behind in fear of commitment but also
his only true love. Throughout the course of the novel music is used with references to
songs and as the source of Rob’s business to offer a deeper insight into Rob’s emotions
and also acts as a hobby which overpowers him. Therefore Hornby uses music as a motif
to signify Rob’s transition from a self –absorbed, commitment-phobe to a caring
individual who puts others first.
In the beginning of the novel, Hornby uses music as a hobby which overpowers
Rob’s emotions, making him miserable and unable to be happy in a relationship. After
breaking up with his latest girlfriend Laura, Rob asks himself “what came first the music
or the misery ?” signifying music’s power over his emotions (24). While Rob loves
listening to songs like “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” to cope with his failed
relationships with women, music itself might be the source of his failed romances to
begin with. Rob explains that the unhappiest people romantically “are the ones who like
pop music the most” revealing that he acknowledges how his love of music has plagued
his past relationships and turned him into a melancholy person (25).
Additionally the
titles of Rob’s all time favorite songs such as “Last Night I Dreamed That Somebody
Loved Me” and “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” reveal that Rob somewhat
enjoys the pain of failed romances as it allows him to be comforted by this meaningful
and sorrowful music (24).
In the beginning of the novel music is also as a hobby in
which Rob uses as a coping method for his break ups. Rob reorganizes his record
collection following his break up with Laura something he does “at periods of emotional
stress” (54). Rather than talking to his family, friends, or Laura about their breakup as a
way to sort out his commitment problems, Rob finds therapy through reorganizing his
music. His lack of human interaction to sort out his problems is the equivalent to putting
a band aid over a wound without treating it first. Rob’s filing system of music gives him
a “feeling of security” as it is something that gratifies him as unique from others, as no
one else can understand his system (55). Rob’s obsession with organizing his music truly
reveals that he is fearful of commitment as he uses it as a way to isolate himself from
others whom he believes can never understand him. Instead of accepting a woman’s
ignorance about pop music, Rob is self- absorbed in his own tastes and sets impossible
standards for his girlfriends to meet.
In chapter four Rob experiences a transition about his attitude towards music and
its connection to women while going to a performance by American singer, Marie
LaSalle. Rob hears Marie singing a song he detests, “Baby, I Love Your Way” by Peter
Frampton but instead of ‘sticking his finger down his throat’ like he usually did, Marie’s
version of the song “makes him cry” (61). Rob explains that Marie’s version of “Baby I
Love Your Way” made him fall in love with her, marking the fist time that music is
inferior to his interest in a woman. Music is used at this point in the novel to show a
transition in Rob’s character as it is the first time he is able to remove himself from the
music and focus instead on the actual woman. While previously Rob might have written
off Marie as a possible interest because of her cheesy taste in music, he is now more open
to letting himself be entranced by her all over attractiveness. Although it may seem like
Rob has completely transitioned into a more caring individual free of music’s control its
power is still seen later on in the novel.
In chapter 10 the importance of music when deciding whether he should sleep
with Marie LaSalle reveals that Rob has not yet transitioned into a caring, and loving
individual. Rob admits that he decides to sleep with Marie LaSalle because she is a
recording artist who “records with ironically titled Blackpool-based Hit Records” even
though he has no interest in a relationship with her (114). Instead of choosing to pursue
Marie for the various personal qualities she has Rob simply picks her because of her
involvement in the pop music world. At this point in the novel music is still the driving
force that dictates what women Rob chooses revealing how self absorbed he is in his own
hobby. Rob admits in chapter 10 that when picking a woman what really maters is “what
(she) likes, not what (she) is like” signifying how immature he is in his attitude towards
finding romance (117).
“I start to compile in my head a compilation tape for her, something that’s full of
styff she’s heard of, and full of stuff she’d play. Tonight for the first time ever, I can sort
of see how it’s done” (323). This quote truly shows how Rob has changed from a selfish,
commitment fearing bachelor to a compassionate man who is committed to his back- onagain Laura. This change in character is shown through music as Rob used to only mix
Laura mix tapes of songs he liked but now he is sympathetic and cares about her taster in
music and decides to make her a tape of songs she actually likes. His admittance that it is
the first time ever “I can sort of see how it’s done” is Rob’s way of explaining through
making mix taped that he now knows how to put aside himself and his likes for his
girlfriend. Rob has finally gotten over his fear of relationships being like a “ball and
chain” and has come to terms with the fact that life with one woman is going to be similar
to listening to a familiar song on repeat. Although this scenario might have previously
frightened Rob, through the use of his making mix tapes for the likes of Laura it is clear
that he has moved on from his self- centered ways.