In Sonny's Blues, many of the characters face multiple conflicts, both external and internal. One of the most central of these conflicts is the internal struggle of Sonny to cope with the stress of his own life, most notably through his use of heroin. Many other conflicts in the story, such as the narrator's frequent arguments with Sonny, revolve around Sonny's internal conflicts. An example revealing conflict within the story occurs when the narrator gets into a fight with his brother: ". . . we had a fight, a pretty awful fight, and I didn't see him for months. . . . I tried to make it up. But there were lots of other people in the room and Sonny just lay on his bed, and he wouldn't come downstairs with me, and he treated these other people
Paper #3: The use of Language in Sonny’s Blues This story is about a man named Sonny who was arrested for using heroine. Once in jail Sonny knew he no longer wanted to live the life he was living, so he looked for help from his older brother who is the narrator of the story. When Sonny gets released from jail he moves in with his older brother and his family. While living with his older brother Sonny starts to get involved with music again.
“If life is a process of choices... to make choice a dozen times a day is to move a dozen times a day toward self-actualization... because self-actualization is an ongoing process” (111) these are the words of Abraham Maslow an American psychologist. In the story “Sonny’s blue” narrator was born in the street of Harlem, a worst place for any children to grow up. Only a person who escaped from Harlem knows, it is a hell in earth, where little boys used to steal from stores and young people became addicted to drugs. Throughout the story, narrator was living in pain only because he was too afraid to choose anything. But Sonny, younger brother of him was very close to self- actualization.
Alfredo Candelaria Composition and Interpretation of Literature Conversation with a character Sonny’s Blues Sonny from the short story by James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues is by far my exact opposite in terms of attitude, lifestyle and overall view on life. To better understand sunny I will spend the day with him and threw conversation and interaction better understand him as a person. I first met with sunny after he played a song on a piano at a local night club in Harlem.
In James Baldwin’s story “Sonny’s Blues” it is showing that there is an obligation toward brotherly love. The love between brothers is something that doesn’t fade away. When Sonny was in jail it showed that what his older brother was trying to tell him the difference between what is right and what is wrong, before Sonny got caught was not to do drugs. Doing what is wrong can have a negative impact on our families, friends, our communities and the relationships with our siblings. By watching out for our younger siblings after a parent passes away is the biggest responsibility for the oldest child to have to bare.
In Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin, Sunny, the main character, used his natural will to allow his music to express his inner thoughts and feelings. When Sunny was in high school he turned to drugs because he felt trapped by what he wanted to do versus what he was supposed to do. He wanted to be a jazz musician and go to the military before he finished high school, but his older brother, who was his guardian, did not understand why Sunny would want to do any of that: “Well, look, Sunny, I’m sorry, don’t get mad. I just don’t altogether get it, that’s all” (30). Using his natural right to do whatever activity he wants, Sunny learned how to play piano even if his brother did not comprehend why he wanted to play it in the first place.
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.
Sonny’s Blues is a great example of stories that can help you gain an understanding of the people in the world around you. Sonny, a heroin addict, would typically be seen in a negative light. In a world where drug addicts don’t
The narrator in Sonny's Blues and his brother, Sonny, are very similar. Both share ethnicity, grew up together in Harlem, and have suffered loss. If you look deeper, past race and blood and family, you can see the two are incredibly different. Sonny is reckless and somewhat carefree for a good portion of his adult life. He is also extremely connected on an emotional level to music.
In “Sonny Blues”, the brothers create a sense of havoc when faced with the theme of individualism, which could only be restored through the accepting of one another. The narrator
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.
Everyone needs rescuing sometime in life? The narrator in “Sonny’s Blues” struggles with his own identity and finding himself. He has a sense of insecurity and conformity to escape his past and from where he comes. The narrator finds himself focusing on his brother’s mistakes in life when in reality; he is questioning his inner insecurities. The narrator believes he must rescue his brother but realizes first he must find rescue himself.
Next, the narrators issues with his family. Third, there is the issue of the narrator’s fight to cope with the gloom brought about by a broken promise. Lastly, the conflict between Sonny and his brother. The internal conflict of Sonny vs. himself deals with Sonny’s addiction to the dangers of drugs. Studies have proven the fatal effects of drugs when abused.
Then, he talks about how the child that sits in the room is filled with darkness, but that the mother comforts him and “shields” him away from the outside world of hardships. In “Sonny’s Blues” that flash of the headlights may have been a sign that things will get better. This led to the narrator’s realization of the darkness and troubles in Sonny’s life. This story shows that even in times of darkness you can turn your life around, and learn how to cope in ways of rewards rather than leading yourself down the path of
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
He feels that Sonny is throwing his life away. He sees Sonny as a drug abuser who has messed up countless opprutinites and becomes very unpatient with him until he finally start understanding him. Sonny looks up to his brother and relies upon him. Sonny feels like his brother is only upset with him because he chose a different path than him but the real reason was that he was abusing drugs. After finally meeting in the middle Sonny realizes why his brother may have been so hard on him and both Sonny and his brother find a new respect for one