Another Brick in the Wall
The first song that represents Tyler’s life at the beginning of the novel is Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd. He is a regular rebellious teenager whose actions are controlled by authorities. Tyler is one of those who would be on probation due to school vandalizing. He is just one of the many rebels who wants to oppose the system, yet his attempts are unsuccessful.
Pinch Me
Pinch Me by Barenaked Ladies perfectly depicts the stage when Tyler’s life seems more or less stable. He goes to school, meets Bethany, starts flirting with her, and cannot believe he might fall in love (Anderson, 2014). On the other hand, his mother starts drinking heavily and his father becomes a workaholic. He wished to wake up from this nightmare because it causes emotional damage.
Mad World
The next song on the playlist is Mad World by Gary Jules. This track precisely depicts the situations Tyler faces while having an affair Bethany. They party a lot, flirt, and start catching feelings for each other (Anderson, 2014). During one party night, they are about to have sex; however, Tyler decides it is not the perfect time yet. Eventually, Tyler loses track of Bethany complaining how mad the world is.
Everybody Hurts
Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. is the following track that depicts the events after Bethany was found half naked at a party and Tyler was blamed for raping her. He was suspended from school, almost had problems with the law, and was beaten up by some students (Anderson, 2014). Tyler was hurt and his pain was so unbearable, he started contemplating the idea of taking his own life.
Wreck of the Day
Anna Nalick’s Wreck of the Day presets the final stage of the novel where Tyler was fed up with accusations. The only thing he wanted was to commit suicide; however, he did not manage to because his friend stopped him. Moreover, after a severe fight with his father, he decided to reconcile with him. It allowed him to get away from the “wreck of the day” and start over again.
Reference
Anderson, L. (2014). Twisted. Scholastic UK.