ipl-logo

My Brother's Keeper?: Addiction And Renewal

789 Words4 Pages

"Am I My Brother's Keeper?": Addiction and Renewal in Sonny's Blues

In James Baldwin’s short story, Sonny’s Blues, we see themes of fraternal love and music as expression and liberation. The Brother, the narrator and Sonny, the main focus of the story, has their family struggling with accepting Sonny as an addict, grown and independent man, and a hopeful cause. We see these ideas repeat several times throughout the story. For example, during the scene of the street revival, the Brother sees Sonny’s “slow, loping” walk like the hipsters and he finally recognizes Sonny’s soul being relaxed for once and starts to understand his brother’s autonomy.

Section 1. Understanding Sonny’s Blues

Sonny’s Blues is a deeply sorrowful and yet optimistic …show more content…

Independence, Addiction, and Affliction

When it comes to understanding those with mental health disorders, simply hearing them out is one of the best things one can do for them and that’s something Sonny was consistently denied in his life. The brothers were raised in a time of squalor and despair for the majority of Black people, much less the space for anyone to be properly understood beyond a lobotomy, asylum, or prison. Because of this, the Brother and Sonny both developed a great alienation and despair between each other, or as Mr. Duncan puts it, “Baldwin here uses Sonny, who as a musician is uniquely qualified to provide counterpoint, to reveal his brother's emotional deafness…”. (Duncan Learning to Listen to "Sonny's Blues") The Brother seems to prefer to isolate himself, simply keeping Sonny and his group at arm’s length while focusing on his own life. I believe that’s why he only really connects with Sonny after the death of his daughter, seeing how mortal and fragile life is.
The Brother eventually realizes Sonny has been crying for help and tries to connect through something permanent, not merely a high or a support just to get through tough times and they find that in music.

Section 3. “Am I my brother’s

Show More
Related

Two Perspectives In Sonny's Blues, By George Baldwin

1115 Words | 5 Pages

“Sonny’s Blues” is not just about Sonny's decisions and struggles but also about how they affect the narrator. This story is as much about family and brotherhood and the relationship between these two men as it is about the character of

Read More

Father And Son Relationships In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

521 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

The Unconditional Love In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

628 Words | 3 Pages

James Baldwins Sonny’s Blues is a story about a challenging, evolving relationship between two brothers in post-World War II Harlem of New York. The story is told from the point of view of the narrator as he goes through his thoughts on Sonny’s challenges. The narrator is like any other man. He has a job as an algebra teacher, a few kids, and importantly, a loving wife. Isabel is characterized as an extremely caring woman who loves her family, especially her brother-in-law, Sonny.

Read More

Brother Relationships In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

890 Words | 4 Pages

The narrator's repeated "yes, I understand that" emphasizes that he has finally come to terms with Sonny as a person. He lets Sonny talk without interrupting and only talks to let Sonny know he understands and how he changed as a person because he now knows that Sonny needs someone in his life to just listen to him and be there for him. As a result, Sonny felt his brother was genuine enough to invite him to the nightclub where he was performing and show him the world in which he believes he belongs. He was now in Sonny's world, where everyone knew him and he was the outsider. At the club, he gradually got more comfortable playing jazz, and that made the narrator realize just how much jazz music was important to him.

Read More

The Theme Of Brotherly Love In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

1184 Words | 5 Pages

James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” is a short story depicting the relationship of two brothers, Sonny and an unnamed narrator. The story takes place in the project of Harlem, New York in the early 1950s. The narrator is a high school math teacher. His younger brother Sonny is a troubled musician struggling with his addiction to drugs. Before their mother dies, she asks the narrator promise to her he’ll look after his younger brother when she is gone.

Read More

Theme Of Incarceration In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

1441 Words | 6 Pages

From the very beginning of the tale, the sorrow is palpable through the unnamed narrator 's discovery of Sonny 's incarceration, and moreover through the atmosphere created by Mr. Baldwin. The most prominent message that can be deciphered and recognized in Sonny 's Blues is that the sadness and sorrow that one experiences in their life can bring about many obstacles but it can be countered and used for something greater by a search for understanding and acceptance. James Baldwin establishes this implication through the use of his characters; the narrator, Sonny, and the singer seen on the street. All these characters experience sorrow and sadness in their

Read More

Sonny's Blues Rhetorical Analysis

838 Words | 4 Pages

Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin was a short story about the struggles of living in a tough, rundown neighborhood and looking to drugs as a way out. Baldwin’s intent on writing this piece focuses on pain and suffering. The author stresses that not everybody is born in the best circumstances. Sonny was one of those people who grew up in a rickety town where people often did not make it out successful.

Read More

Characterization And Symbolism In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

692 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

Character Analysis: Sonny Blues

1191 Words | 5 Pages

This was to take up the responsibility that was given to him and to let his brother know that he has someone on his corner. “I was sitting in the living room in the dark, by myself, and I suddenly thought of Sonny. My trouble made his real” (Baldwin 378). This shows that the brother has grown sympathy for Sonny. This is because his daughter’s death caused him to really sit down and evaluate the series of events that has taken place in Sonny’s life.

Read More

A Critical Analysis Of Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

909 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More

Sonny's Blues Essay

1138 Words | 5 Pages

“Sonny’s Blues,” written by James Baldwin discusses conflicts between two brothers in hopes of mending their relationship. “Sonny’s Blues” begins with the unnamed narrator reading a piece of paper with information regarding the trouble his brother Sonny has gotten himself into. The narrator has not been communicating with his brother during this period, but after the death of his two-year-old daughter Grace, he writes Sonny a letter. Once Sonny has been released, he goes back to Harlem to live with the narrator, and the narrator forces him into staying with his fiancé Isabel and her family because he believes Sonny deserves the opportunity to receive an education. Sonny makes it known to the narrator that he does not want to go back to school

Read More

Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin: Literary Analysis

1396 Words | 6 Pages

(European Graduate School) In Sonny’s Blues Baldwin shows both his influence of from Black people and drug addiction to the loneliness that situations create and how isolation occurs during troubling times. Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin is a story of struggle and redemption through others. James Baldwin uses the narrator the story from a first person point of view which leads to a sense of disorientation in the reader and contributes to the stories theme of forgiveness.

Read More

Identity In Sonny's Blues

813 Words | 4 Pages

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 rescuing from himself. He hides behind a curtain of denial trying to protect himself from emotional reality. The narrator struggles to understand when and how Sonny began his troubles with drug addiction; he does not understand where he went wrong in being a role model for his younger brother. Now, years later the narrator is a school teacher who is trying to be a role model for the young boys in his class.

Read More

Character Analysis: Summary In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

1465 Words | 6 Pages

When the narrator accompanies Sonny to the nightclub to listen to him play his music; Sonny’s music portrays his wisdom as he plays about his brother’s frustrations with the trials and sufferings they both endured. Sonny’s artful playing of the blues opens the narrator’s heart to listen genuinely. If one listens to what lies on the inside that is the key to finding oneself. Joseph Flibbert states in the article “Sonny’s Blues” Overview, “In the music he hears, he sees his mother’s face, and that of his little girl … The powerful incantations of Sonny’s art reaches his soul, and for the first time, he listens to the dark voice within”.

Read More

Examples Of Syntax In Sonny's Blues

1556 Words | 7 Pages

Alicia Mathew Mrs. Hall English 2 Honors March 15, 2023 Caring About Your Family Can Hurt You “Sonny’s Blues” takes place in the town of Harlem where the narrator discovers that his brother, Sonny, was arrested for being involved with drugs. The narrator reminisces over his childhood with Sonny, and he reconciles their relationship after Sonny is released from jail when the narrator listens to Sonny playing at a local jazz club. In the short story “Sonny’s Blues,” James Baldwin emphasizes how family relationships can contribute to internal conflicts due to how much one cares about their family.

Read More

More about My Brother's Keeper?: Addiction And Renewal

Related Topics

Open Document