See a complete list of the characters in Sonny's Blues and in-depth analyses of The Narrator, Sonny, and Mother. He had a background as a preacher, so a text from the Book . for only $13.00 $11.05/page. This also shows how music was perceived by a rather older generation from that of Sonnys, which treasured music. The silence of the next few days must have been louder than the sound of all the music ever played since time began. ", She stood up from the window and came over to me. From there, they exchanged several letters. You'll also receive an email with the link. "Sonny's Blues" is the best reading because Baldwin connects the audience with all of the characters while also focusing on human suffering, which is. I had kept it outside me for a long time. Available Several individuals were arrested in a drug bust. First published in 1957, Sonnys Blues, perhaps Baldwins best known and most widely anthologized short story, was later collected in the volume Going to Meet the Man (1965). The story takes the reader through pain, suffering, alienation, and anger of the main character. "Analysis of "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin." One of the best stories I've ever read this year. At the end, the narrator realizes why Sonny turned to drugs in the first place. James Baldwins Sonnys Blues is a short story depicting the relationship of two brothers, Sonny and an unnamed narrator. And his triumph, when he triumphs, is ours. To avoid conflict Sonny decided to join the navy and disappear for a long time, which is also seen as a moment of peace in the story until his return from war. Initially published in 1957, it was included in the 1965 collection entitled Going to Meet the Man. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. "It did.". 269. Discount, Discount Code That's three years after Brown v. Board of Education, two years after Rosa Parks refused to sit at the back of the bus, six years before Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech and seven years before President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sonny's Blues James Baldwin Full Audiobook - YouTube So you've got to listen. He had made it his: that long line, of which we knew only Mama and Daddy. In Sonnys Blues, Baldwins shifting portrayal of Harlem mirrors the changing relationship of the two brothers: while both the city and the relationship were originally with dark uncertainty, by the end of the story, the narrator has begun to find peace both within his surroundings and his relationship with his brother. Sonnys Blues is about an older brothers relationship and differences with his younger brother, Sonny. the title of the story is name after the brother of the narrator, it is through the narrators eyes about his brother Sonny. #12. On any level." Sonny was clearly disappointed and embarrassed by his choice of actions and despite what anyone said, he realized the choice he made was poor and it was time to follow his dream. The narrator talks about the drug dealing that happens in the playgrounds near the housing projects and of course his brothers battle, Using his writing as a form of self-expression, James Baldwin, an African American author, spent his life seeking to reveal the cruel reality of African American men. There isn't any other tale to tell, it's the only light we've got in all this darkness.". Renews March 10, 2023 1. As said in the story Some escaped the trap, most didnt. (2021, February 16). "Sonny's Blues" is a story written in the first-person singular narrative style. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Reminiscing with the memory of what use to be, the narrator realizes Sonny is battling with his addiction to Heroin. Sonnys Blues was created in an African American setting, where music was growing and was apart of the culture. Sonnys Blues touches on the life of Sonnys character who is seen to undergo emotional pain and suffering in several years as an orphan and a drug addict in a poor neighborhood of African Americans (Claborn 94). Plot of "Sonny's Blues" The story opens with the first-person narrator reading in the newspaper that his younger brother from whom he is estranged has been arrested for selling and using heroin. I hadnt wanted to know. I'm telling you this because you got a brother. #5. Learn more. Sonny is a musician and chosen music as a career, which he is also planning to take a full time course to further his skills. The narrator was also able to realize that Sonny was talented in music as opposed to his thoughts. Their laughter struck me for perhaps the first time. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! It is also evident that the narrators mother had asked him to take care of Sonny, I want to talk to you about your brother, if anything happens to me he aint going to have nobody to look out for him (Baldwin 26). Then I kept in constant touch with him and I sent him whatever I could and I went to meet him when he came back to New York. I'm glad Mama and Daddy are dead and can't see what's happened to their son and I swear if I'd known what I was doing I would never have hurt you so, you and a lot of other fine people who were nice to me and who believed in me. "You got to hold on to your brother," she said, "and don't let him fall, no matter what it looks like is happening to him and no matter how evil you gets with him. This story was written by James Baldwin, in 1957. The narrator of the Sonnys Blues was able to get out and he lived a happy life, having a family and a career while sonny got stuck and ended up doing drugs and eventually got himself arrested. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Sonny's Blues. All at once something inside gave and threatened to come pouring out of me. It was a special kind of ice. Symbolism Of Light And Dark In Sonny's Blues | ipl.org Sustana, Catherine. Enhance your understanding of Sonny's Blues by learning more about James Baldwin as well as about historical contextfor this short story. As a symbol in the story, darkness makes it possible for the readers to understand better the setting of the story and the situation in the African American neighborhood in America. The conflict was created because Sonny had to hide the fact that he was studying music. Sonny's Blues. And though the narrator in some ways has escaped the "darkness" of his childhood by getting a respectable job and starting a family, he realizes that his children are facing all the same challenges he faced. The city of Harlem is of great importance because of the situation depicted in the 1950s whereby African Americans went through social issues such as poverty, drug abuse, insecurity, violence, conflicts, prostitution, and the rise of the music culture (Claborn 92). That's all." #15. Through this, the narrator was able to know that music acted as a unifying factor in the African American society as many people like Sonny had their own families out there who loved them. Character List The Narrator Sonny Mother Here's what he said: Dear brother, You don't know how much I needed to hear from you. In the remembrance, the speaker also recollects how Sonny used to fight with his father since they were similar in many ways, particularly through music, He and Sonny hadnt ever got too well, and this was partly because Sonny was the apple of his fathers eye (Baldwin 26). The nightclub where Sonny plays is very dark. Using conclusions gleaned from a detailed reading of the primary text, as . "Me," he said. The final scene moves me every single time that I reread it. I got to get outside. Can't much help old Sonny no more, I guess, "I'm surprised at Sonny, though," he went on-he had a funny way of talking, he looked straight ahead as though he were talking to himself-"I thought Sonny was a smart boy, I thought he was too smart to get hung. The story depicts the relationship of the brothers as the younger brother, Sonny, battles to overcome a heroin addiction and find a career in jazz. After Sony performed, the narrator saw how affectionate music was and was able to change his perception of music, owing to the love he saw Sonny feel at the club. I sat alone in the classroom a long time. When he was about as old as the boys in my classes his face had been bright and open, there was a lot of copper in it; and he'd had wonderfully direct brown eyes, and great gentleness and privacy. This narrator recently discovered the arrest of his younger brother for the accusations of selling and using heroin. I couldn't believe it: but what I mean by that is that I couldn't find any room for it anywhere inside me. Sonny is the main character in the story who has been through a lot in life. The narrator was an algebra teacher. Darkness, "Sonny's Blues", and Light "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin is about two brothers, Sonny and the unnamed narrator. First published in 1957, Sonnys Blues, perhaps Baldwins best known and most widely. ThoughtCo. Sonny accepts it and gives a nod of approval to his brother across the room. The author chooses this method of presentation to bring out the main idea of the story. Booklassic, 2015. The first type of darkness is the one that was closing in on their lives, and the one on the movies that is making them not see the other type of darkness (Clark 201). And how about you? Would you like to get this essay by email? #22. It was mocking and insular, its intent was to denigrate. He had a background as a preacher, so a text from the Book of Genesis in the Bible, has a similarity towards Sonnys Blues. Throughout his day, he cannot think of anything else. 1245 Words5 Pages. The meeting erupts into another fight whereby the narrator accused Sonny for making wrong life decisions, particularly drug abuse and the decision to become a pianist, which the narrator considered a waste of time. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. In order of importance, the ideas are family, home, suffering, and drugs. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! One name stands out to him, in shock, the readers learn it was his brother who was involved. Summary Read our full plot summary of "Sonny's Blues." Full Book Full Plot Summary Characters See a complete list of the characters in "Sonny's Blues" and in-depth analyses of The Narrator, Sonny, and Mother. Sometimes it hardened and seemed to expand until I felt my guts were going to come spilling out or that I was going to choke or scream. But don't you forget what I told you, you hear?". What I love most about this short story is how well this can be adapted into so many lives and how painful any kind of addiction can be and how tragic and life-changing it is to overcome it. If you are the original author of this essay and no longer wish to have it published on the #7. Ruby Washington / Archive Photos / Getty Images. So now naturally, when I read a published writer, I automatically zone in on that one word, that, and the word "thing. Drugs And Crime In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin I saw this boy standing in the shadow of a doorway, looking just like Sonny. This article "Sonny's Blues," was written by James Baldwin where he narrates a story about Sonny, his younger brother. In "Sonny's Blues", the narrator, whom is an unnamed brother of Sonny and protagonist of the story, explains his life in Harlem. Baldwin uses the blues to shape his short story, paralleling Sonny's musical use of the blues. And myself. . However, the story is different from my life in the aspect of the drug peddling and imprisonment of Sonny. Find the quotes from Sonny's Blues you need to support your essay or refresh your memory. Wed love to have you back! Sonny's Blues Connections and Further Reading - eNotes.com In "Sonny's Blues" how does the order in which events are - eNotes He notes that: Though both Sonny and the narrator have traveled the world by enlisting in the military, they have both ended up back in Harlem. It was not the joyous laughter which-God knows why-one associates with children. Through this short story Baldwin manages to show pain ,and hardships and the journey that is needed to transcend from. No one writes about music and solitude as Baldwin does.