Compare And Contrast Sonny's Blues And Cathedral

Comparison Among The Storys: “Sonnys Blues” and “Cathedral”

Most authors use rich symbolism, character development, and background to understand better the difficulties and rewards of being human. The writers Raymond Carver and James Baldwin explore the complexities of interpersonal relations and the transforming effects of empathy and self-understanding. In the narratives “Cathedral” and “Sonny’s Blues,” Raymond Carver and James Baldwin ascertain that human connection generally occurs in various forms and degrees, such as estrangement against people, being able to grow empathy toward one another, and issues correlating with trust and misconception.

Estrangement is a significant motif that emphasizes the characters' sense of isolation and loneliness

James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" emphasizes the importance of empathy in the connection between the two brothers, Sonny, and the narrator. The narrator struggles throughout the narrative to comprehend Sonny's experiences, “I think people ought to do what they want to do. What else are they alive for?” but eventually learns to relate to those challenges (Baldwin 95). For instance, the narrator's willingness to attend Sonny's concert and listen to his jazz music despite his initial dispassion and judgment towards Sonny's enthusiasm. The narrator's shift from condemnation to empathy enables him to relate to Sonny more profoundly, “I was trying to find out something about my brother. I was dying to hear him tell me he was safe” (Baldwin 72). Sonny's brother took time to comprehend the anguish and suffering he had gone through entirely. In James Tackach's "The Biblical Foundation of James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues," Tackach claims that James Baldwin's story was based on “the parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke's gospel with the Cain and Abel tale from Genesis,” the story of two brothers who struggle to grow empathy towards each other amid a storm (Tackach 2). Ultimately, the narrative implies that developing empathy is crucial for fostering understanding and connection, particularly across diverse life experiences and viewpoints. Correspondingly, in "Cathedral," the

In Sonnys Blues, the narrator hesitates to see Sonny in jail and critiques his music; it is clear that he does not trust him. Nevertheless, when the narrator goes to one of Sonny's concerts and appreciates the beauty of his music, his preconceptions are disproved. The image of Sonny was portrayed by the actions his brother had seen growing up together, “It does not do any good to fight with Sonny. Sonny just moves back, inside himself, where he cannot be reached” (Baldwin 70). Throughout the story, the narrator struggles to understand his brother's choices and fears for his safety; he has created a burden between himself and Sonny. The narrative illustrates how trust is a delicate yet essential element in establishing a good relationship and how its absence may result in emotional distance and seclusion. "I did not trust myself to speak. I did not know what might come out,” the narrator reflects on his lack of trust in his ability to communicate effectively with his brother, Sonny (Baldwin 78). As the story goes on, we see misconception plays a significant role in the trust between the brothers, "I had misunderstood the nature of my brother's life. I had not allowed for his capacity to live it, his courage, or his grace,” the narrator reflects on how he had misconceived his brother Sonny's struggles with addiction and his