The 1950s are an era that focuses on the civil rights movement and new forms of music such as blues and jazz. Before this movement forms, there is oppression and discriminatory behavior throughout this time period. However, this is met with the joy and excitement of jazz and blues music. Through the use of music, it helps the African American race to rise above discrimination, continue to push for equal rights, and thus form the civil rights movement. In the short story, “Sonny’s Blues,” by James Baldwin, Baldwin suggests how music has a hopeful effect through the way it uplifts and brings Sonny, the narrator, and the community together. As Baldwin’s story progresses, there is a clear shift in the relationship between Sonny …show more content…
For example, in the middle of the story, Sonny is by the window and hears a woman singing in the crowd of people, and reminds Sonny “of what heroin feels like.”(p. 15) Sonny then goes into detail that music makes people feel warm and cool and attracts large crowds of people and thus forsaking the darkness away. By also referring to music as heroin, it represents a means of escaping from the dark hardships of life. Towards the end of the story, Sonny is playing at the jazz club, and his music "fill[s] the air with life, his life. But that life contain[s] so many others.”(p. 20) As the crowd hears Sonny play, the people come alive and are filled with a sense of hope due to Sonny’s music reflecting the lives of so many. Through Sonny’s music, it tells the crowd that everyone has hardships but that does not mean they must suffer through them alone. Also as the story is ending, the narrator finds out the importance of music in the lives of society after Creole explains the meaning of the blues at the jazz club and now knows that music is “the only light we [have] got in this darkness.”(p. 20) With this in mind, it is clear that music is a vital aspect of keeping society’s happiness and hope at a steady rate. It also signifies that without music there would be only darkness, and society would crumble because of
James Baldwin is a renowned author best known for his work of essays, books and short stories, particularly those which dwell deeply into important social and psychological issues of discrimination, gender inequality, homophobia and so on. One of Mr. Baldwin 's most appreciated literary works is the short story 'Sonny 's Blues ' which focuses on two brothers who grew up together but take different paths in life. The story follows the narrator learning about his brother Sonny 's incarceration due to the use and selling of drugs until his brother gets parole. Throughout the story, we learn about the relationship between the pair and are able to witness the narrators ultimate understanding of Sonny and his ambition. As we continue to observe the impressive short story, we find the most recurring theme to be that of sorrow.
The narrator is visited by a friend from Sonny’s past and then after reaches out to his brother. Sonny invites him to come hear him play and that is when the narrator understands his brother and in turn understands he himself. James Baldwin was raised by a single mother and later stepfather who was a Baptist minister. He attended school in the Bronx and developed a passion for
It seemed to control his own will, overtaking his days and actions as if it were just as important as breathing for him. Just as it was his key motivator for moving in, it also seemed as if it was his key motivator for living itself as the narrator began to see that Sonny was not only playing for practice but for his life altogether. It was as if they were living with a sound rather than a person, a sound that no one but Sonny could
Even though meticulous, Sonny’s brother could catch a glimpse of pain and suffering for seconds in his face as he tried to cover it with a smile. Sonny’s brother believed he had his life figured. Sonny felt free but freedom meant nothing to him if those around him were still entrapped. He used music as form of communication to reach out to his audience. He was however making little to no success in his music visions and that frustrates him.
While both characters love and care for each other, Sonny’s addictions have led them to become estranged from one another. By bridging the gap between the narrator and his estranged brother, Sonny, Baldwin shows how music can heal broken relationships. The final scene at the nightclub brings us to the pair in the midst of repairing their relationship. At this point Sonny has not played
Throughout the story of “Sonny’s Blues”, James Baldwin develops a theme that can still be related with today. The misunderstanding and lack of knowledge that the narrator experiences, about his brother, is something that many today feel, as their own family members are being prosecuted and they do not comprehend why. Within the story, there are numerous subtle ideas that are used to progress the story and theme along to the ending that is given. James Baldwin advances the theme of his story, that misfortune and anguish can be renovated into a unique art form, using characterizations, settings, and symbolisms. One of the main literary devices that is used to express the theme is characterization.
In that moment the narrator finally understands Sonny’s love for music. Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” displays the theme of brotherly love to illustrate, that love can keep a family together no matter how many fights or issues there may be. Baldwin demonstrates the theme of brotherly love all through this story. The first example we see of brotherly love is when the two brothers are reunited after not seeing each other for months.
The story also states, Sonny being the fathers favorite and was “the apple of his fathers’ eye". Baldwin’s work usually shows similar situations as to where one child is favored over the other since he's lived through
James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" analyzes a very complex relationship between the narrator and his brother, Sonny. Before directing to the attention of the relationship between these two brothers, we have to first understand the personality of each character. Initially, the narrator has a stable job as a hardworking math teacher and makes an effort to assimilate himself to his surroundings, but has never comprehended his brother, Sonny. Sonny is the complete opposite of the narrator. Sonny separates from his brother to become a Blues musician, though becomes addicted to drugs, such as heroin, in order to control his own feelings.
Sonny and the narrator realize that those boys will end up like them and that nothing will change for
They were the most popular illegal drugs found on the streets of Harlem (Baldwin 1957). Heroin became predominant in the urban areas after World War II where it was widely distributed. It began to make its way into the Jazz music scene where Sonny was able to obtain it. It became a source of refuge for him after his music became insufficient. It is somewhat understandable for Sonny when he became an addict.
In James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” the author uses Sonny’s struggle for a redeemed life to push the narrator toward the realization of his own need for rescue; through this realization, the narrator can find his identity and be free from his sadness. The narrator needs rescue from his guilt of
Sonny’s escape in music is him moving away from the pain and suffering in his life and moving towards peace and order. In the beginning, Sonny’s brother was not too keen of the idea of Sonny playing jazz music because he thought he could do something more with his life, but he failed to realized that music was Sonny’s escape from life and all its chaos. However, at the end of the story Sonny asked his brother to join him at the jazz club and watch him play. At first his brother was hesitant to go with him, but gives in and goes to watch his brother. When Sonny started playing, his brother realizes how involved Sonny was with his music.
Clark states in his article “James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues: Childhood, Light, and Art” that “…the narrator is seated “in a dark corner” ...in contrast the stage is dominated by light” (Clark). Clark shows by this that within the darkness that surrounds Sonny, music is a place of hope for him. Light is shown to effect Sonny in a different way than his Uncle. Light is shown to effect Sonny in a surrounding that would have been a place of comfort for him before his addiction. The narrator states, “…[they] were being careful not to step into that circle of light too suddenly…that if they moved into the light too suddenly… they would perish” (Baldwin 112).
As Donald C. Murray has said in his article, “James Baldwin’s ‘Sonny’s Blues’: Complicated and Simple”, “Images of light and darkness are used by Baldwin… ( Murray 354)”. Also, Baldwin is able to tell a story that can make the reader visualize what is happening to this character Sonny, even though it is being narrated through the eyes and perspective of his older brother. He portrays the older brother as someone who can understand and recognizes the internal struggles of Sonny and be compassionate about them, even though the elder brother does not agree with all the life choices his brother has