Irresponsibility in High Fidelity by Nick Hornby - Essay Example

Task: Theme of Irresponsibility in High Fidelity by Nick Hornby High fidelity High Fidelity is a story revolving around Rob,a middle-aged man, who does not seem to realize his goals and agenda in life. He is in a constant state of mental struggle and seeks to find happiness. However, he does not seem to take the initiative to ensure that he becomes happy. He quickly jumps into relationships and abandons them. He is not committed to his work and appears contented with the little he earns. Rob seeks freedom in his relationships because he endeavors to keep his options open. High Fidelity strongly brings out Rob’s irresponsibility as one of the major themes. Irresponsibility Rob’s irresponsibility emerges through his lack of commitment, self-destructive attitude and lack of initiative. At the beginning of the novel, the narrator lists his five prior breakups. This breakup portrays the narrator’s inability to sustain a relationship. He seems to be looking for something more that he cannot understand. The first breakup is with Alison Ashworth whom he dated for a few hours. Robs then dated Alison Hardwick, a year after his first breakup. Hardwick could not give into his sexual demands leading to a breakup. Rob, still eager for a relationship, steals his friend’s girlfriend who was called Jackie Allen. This relationship lasted only a few weeks after which Allen left him for his prior boyfriend, Phil. His fourth relationship ends in a breakup as well. The girl in the fourth relationship is Charlie Nicholson whom he met in college. Rob kept thinking that she was too good for him and that she would eventually leave him for another person. They eventually break up. Rob still earns for relationship and meets Sarah Kendrew, who like Rob, hurts from a breakup. Rob and Kendrew swear to live together forever but Kendrew meets another person and leaves Rob (Hornby 3). This string of breakup portrays Rob’s inability to commit fully in a relationship. Numerous breakups may motivate one to get into a mature sustainable relationship. However, Rob wants to be free so that he can act as he pleases. He also wants to enjoy an intimate relationship with a woman. This is irresponsible because he should take some time to assess his feeling and decide on the best course of action. Instead, he is contented by the initial infatuation and intimacy with a woman. After staying with a woman for a while, he starts questioning himself whether the woman is right for him. Rob usually finds reasons to leave her than stay in the relationship. This also happens with Laura, his next girlfriend (Knowles 14). The author uses the numerous girlfriends who broke up with Rob as a symbol to indicate his lack of commitment. His love for music symbolizes his loneliness and need for fulfillment. It is ironic that the author calls the novel high fidelity to highlight commitment to a marital relationship though Rob is committed to himself. Rob’s inability to commit does not apply to relationship but also other aspects in his life. For example, he dropped out of school due to the inability to commit to schooling requirements. He has a music shop that does not reward him significantly though the business does not bother him. He is comfortable with his meager earnings so long as he can afford a meal and shelter. His actions are attributable to lack of commitment to his responsibilities, as well as, woman named Laura. In the event that he was responsible, he would have worked harder to improve his life. Laura eventually prompts him to think of other things that he may enjoy doing in a bid to generate money. A reader is likely to label Rob’s actions are irresponsible. The Commitments by Roddy Doyle depicts the power of commitment. Derek Scully and Foster commit themselves to forming a band though they know little about music. Regardless of their inexperience, they continue pursuing their dream. They sign in more members and struggle to make their dream come true. On the contrary, Rob does not seem to put work hard at anything. Irresponsibility is also evident in The Commitments when Joey engages in sexual intimacy with Imelda causing the group to split up while on the verge of making a break-through. Self-destructive attitude Another aspect of irresponsibility seen in High Fidelity is self-destructive attitude (Knowles 15). Rob harbors a melancholic attitude towards life in general. This is evident when Rob questions himself, “What came first – the music or the misery? Did I listen to the music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to the music? Do all those records turn you into a melancholic person?” (Keskinen 76) Melancholy is a form of self-protective measure where one desires to be above happiness or sorrow. This attitude does not encourage a person to seek an improved lifestyle, but remain comfortable with the current situation. Laura was not happy with their current financial status because he urged Rob to seek something else he could enjoy doing. Rob was very comfortable with his state. Another incidence of destructive attitude is seen when he mocks customers. According to him, the customers knew nothing about the music he sold. In a business setting, customer’s ignorance should be an opportunity to utilize and not an opportunity to ridicule. There is a similarity between High Fidelity and Coming Through Slaughter. Both present self-destructive activities of the characters. Coming Through Slaughter narrates Bolden’s last months of his career. He gradually changes his music and behavior. He becomes radical as time progresses until finally leaves the music industry. Lack of self-drive Lack of self-drive and initiative is the last aspect of irresponsibility portrayed by High Fidelity (Knowles 16). Rob broke up with Laura but they get back together again. However, Rob does not seem to have learned from his experience. Another woman easily entices him after making up with Laura. Lack of confidence may be the cause of his inability to institute changes in his relationship and career. Rob is an old and mature man though he acts in a childish manner that makes it difficult for him to succeed. Works Cited Doyle, Roddy. The Commitments. New York: Random House, 2010. Print Hornby, Nick. High Fidelity. New York: Penguin, 1996. Print Knowles, Joanne. Nick Hornby's High Fidelity. New York: Continuum, 2002. Print Top of Form Keskinen, M. (2008). Audio book: Essays on sound technologies in narrative fiction. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. Bottom of Form Read More