Sometimes the people we love the most are not the people we belong with. It is a part of life, questioning where you belong. Do we belong with the people we grew up with? Does our heritage complete who we are, or do our values? This theme is exhibited in both “We Were Liars” by E.Lockhart and “Somebody that I used to know” by Gotye. This specific theme is supported throughout the song and the book, both about individuals who are broken and have made mistakes and must face the consequences. Both pieces teach us that throughout life there will confusion and anxiety of which we will go through until we find the place or people we truly belong with. It is important to know that everyone goes through this because it is a part of growing up, it's not the end of the world. Even the people who are most important to us today may just be somebody we used to know tomorrow.
“Told myself that you were right for me. But felt so lonely in your company.” this is significant because in “We Were Liars” Cadence is going through a big part of her life where she can not make sense of anything. She is the eldest of the grandchildren and she will be the one to endure the family’s old traditions and heritage. Cadence feels a pressure on herself because her views do not comply to her own. “Told myself that you were right for me” this relates to how Cadence knows her destiny is set for her and she needs to continue the family’s ways. “But felt so lonely in your company” this ties to how Cadences views are different to the rest of the family’s. She does not feel their views are right however she still does not want to let them down. Gotye’s lyrics is a more straightforward version of the story.The difference between songs and books are that books tell a complex story where they want the reader to learn whatever is relevant to their lives and whatever they want to take away from a character, whilst songs teach the listener a message that is more clear and straightforward. This is the same between “We Were Liars” and “Somebody that I used to know” they have a similar message, however, the way they deliver this message is different. The effect of the different ways are that with “Somebody that I used to know” it being more straightforward helps people make their own sense of the message and relate it to their own lives whilst in the novel “We Were Liars” it is a message that is related to mainly the character and their story.
The phase of questioning who you belong with leads to different moods. Sometimes when we feel we can not escape these relationships we get addicted to feeling sorry for ourselves.“You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness. Like resignation to the end, always the end” these lyrics from Gotye’s song are significant because they address the issue of the pressure we feel when we want to belong somewhere we do not truly belong. In “We Were Liars” Cadence is feeling the pressure to belong with her family and be happy with them yet she still can not get over the fact that she has different views and beliefs than them. “It's alright for you to moon around the tiny beach, whatever you did this afternoon. It’s alright for you to give away books. But I expect you at Clairmont for supper in an hour with a smile on your face for Grandad. No arguments. No excuses. You understand me?” This conversation Cadence had with her mother is significant because it supports the fact that the pressure of expectations and beliefs of which she does not agree with gets to her and causes her to do things from her own agony. Both Gotye’s song and E.Lockhart's book are a way to help people through the difficult part of life they are facing by relating stories and songs to real life, mainly in young adults.
Some may argue that both E.Lockhart’s novel and Gotye’s song were both themed with heartbreak, love and although this could be argued love and heartbreak are some of the most common themes in songs and books in this century. Almost all pieces who have the basic theme of love or heartbreak have deeper themes hidden within the writing or lyrics. “We Were Liars” and “Somebody that I used to know” are no exception, so although some may argue that the theme is love or heartbreak if they look deeper they will find many deeper themes in both.
In both “We were liars” by E.Lockhart and “Somebody that I used to know” by Gotye the theme of questioning where we belong and who we belong with. This is a basic part of life, especially in young adulthood, however, it is a rough time many people are usually not prepared for. Both explore the effects that the pressure of becoming an adult can agonize a teenager when they are not supported, such as Cadence who is going through a difficult time with no support from family nor friends. The two deliver the theme in different ways with the Gotye’s being more straightforward and E.Lockhart’s pushing you to think deeper and explore the story. These two pieces were almost guides for young people to go through difficult times in life. This universal theme is one not commonly addressed in novels or songs nonetheless, it is as important as many of the themes in other books with many individuals able to relate to it.
“Told myself that you were right for me. But felt so lonely in your company.” this is significant because in “We Were Liars” Cadence is going through a big part of her life where she can not make sense of anything. She is the eldest of the grandchildren and she will be the one to endure the family’s old traditions and heritage. Cadence feels a pressure on herself because her views do not comply to her own. “Told myself that you were right for me” this relates to how Cadence knows her destiny is set for her and she needs to continue the family’s ways. “But felt so lonely in your company” this ties to how Cadences views are different to the rest of the family’s. She does not feel their views are right however she still does not want to let them down. Gotye’s lyrics is a more straightforward version of the story.The difference between songs and books are that books tell a complex story where they want the reader to learn whatever is relevant to their lives and whatever they want to take away from a character, whilst songs teach the listener a message that is more clear and straightforward. This is the same between “We Were Liars” and “Somebody that I used to know” they have a similar message, however, the way they deliver this message is different. The effect of the different ways are that with “Somebody that I used to know” it being more straightforward helps people make their own sense of the message and relate it to their own lives whilst in the novel “We Were Liars” it is a message that is related to mainly the character and their story.
The phase of questioning who you belong with leads to different moods. Sometimes when we feel we can not escape these relationships we get addicted to feeling sorry for ourselves.“You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness. Like resignation to the end, always the end” these lyrics from Gotye’s song are significant because they address the issue of the pressure we feel when we want to belong somewhere we do not truly belong. In “We Were Liars” Cadence is feeling the pressure to belong with her family and be happy with them yet she still can not get over the fact that she has different views and beliefs than them. “It's alright for you to moon around the tiny beach, whatever you did this afternoon. It’s alright for you to give away books. But I expect you at Clairmont for supper in an hour with a smile on your face for Grandad. No arguments. No excuses. You understand me?” This conversation Cadence had with her mother is significant because it supports the fact that the pressure of expectations and beliefs of which she does not agree with gets to her and causes her to do things from her own agony. Both Gotye’s song and E.Lockhart's book are a way to help people through the difficult part of life they are facing by relating stories and songs to real life, mainly in young adults.
Some may argue that both E.Lockhart’s novel and Gotye’s song were both themed with heartbreak, love and although this could be argued love and heartbreak are some of the most common themes in songs and books in this century. Almost all pieces who have the basic theme of love or heartbreak have deeper themes hidden within the writing or lyrics. “We Were Liars” and “Somebody that I used to know” are no exception, so although some may argue that the theme is love or heartbreak if they look deeper they will find many deeper themes in both.
In both “We were liars” by E.Lockhart and “Somebody that I used to know” by Gotye the theme of questioning where we belong and who we belong with. This is a basic part of life, especially in young adulthood, however, it is a rough time many people are usually not prepared for. Both explore the effects that the pressure of becoming an adult can agonize a teenager when they are not supported, such as Cadence who is going through a difficult time with no support from family nor friends. The two deliver the theme in different ways with the Gotye’s being more straightforward and E.Lockhart’s pushing you to think deeper and explore the story. These two pieces were almost guides for young people to go through difficult times in life. This universal theme is one not commonly addressed in novels or songs nonetheless, it is as important as many of the themes in other books with many individuals able to relate to it.
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