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Addiction And Suffering In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

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"Sonny's Blues" is a story about two brothers, Sonny and the narrator, who reconnect after years of separation. The story begins with the narrator on his way to high school, where he sees a newspaper about his brother Sonny who is arrested for heroin use. Sonny is a talented jazz musician and an addict to heroin. After his arrest, the narrator does not write a letter to his brother as Sonny's friend had advised her. However, after the death of his daughter Grace, who died of suffering from Polio. The brother, Sonny, regrets his actions and explains that he went to prison because of heroin addiction. There is a flashback about the narrator and Sony after their mother dies; the narrator asks the mother-in-law to live with Sonny because he wants to join the army. The brother agreed to it. After all, he was told the in-laws had a piano he could use because he wanted to be a Jazz pianist. After the army, he takes heroine and ends up in prison. After leaving the prison, the narrator is invited to see Sony and his band playing music. Sony plays the song pouring out his emotions, and the narrator …show more content…

One of the prominent themes is addiction and suffering. Sonny is a talented jazz musician who has struggled with addiction for many years (Baldwin, p 225). His obsession has caused him immense pain and has profoundly impacted his relationships with others. The story depicts the devastating consequences of addiction for individuals and their loved ones. The story is set in Harlem, where people live difficult lives. Despite the narrator being a teacher, he still suffers because he cannot provide a better life for his children. Evidently, he lives in a rundown housing project. This means he is suffering due to poverty. Also, he suffers from grief as his daughter Grace is dead due to Polio. The brother Sonny is suffering because of his addiction to heroin which makes him be

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