Sony Blues Literary Devices

“Sony Blue’s” is set in Harlem and it is based on a story about two brothers who lost their two parents, now trying to find their own way in life taking different paths but in a way still connected. Narrator says “ Those who got out always left something of themselves behind, as some animals amputate a leg and leave it in the trap.” The narrator is more realistic then his brother Sonny, who is a dreamer and a heroin addict who wants to become a jazz musician to express his suffering to the audience but in order to do that he knows he has to escape Harlem to live the kind of life he wants. The narrator is a teacher and holds traditional values and had to sacrifice leaving his culture behind, part of himself and his connection to

He told himself “ Sonny was wild, but he wasn’t crazy…been a good boy.” Narrator thought Sony had a potential and didn’t want it to go for waste Ordinary things can be expressed in extra ordinary way. Sonny struggles to be heard throughout the story, especially by his own brother and the only way he knows how to communicate and express himself with his family is through the Blues music. It was his way of reconnecting with his heritage and discovering himself. “Blues is a music genre and musical form originated by African Americans in the deep South. The genre developed from the roots in African musical traditions…Early blues frequently took the form of a loose narrative, often relating the racial discrimination and other challenges experienced by African Americans.” (Wikipedia) Sonny wanted to be a musician, which his brother didn’t approve of because he was worried about him making a living on that profession. The narrator didn’t take Sonny seriously and that annoyed Sonny. He felt that his own brother wasn’t there for him and wanted to dictate his life. He turns to drugs to cope with his problems. All that pain, hurt and emotions he felt in his past life was lived though the music and making him feel he belonged. For example, the narrator to hear Sonny suffering, it took his own suffering, through his daughters passing till he started to gain compassion for his brother while he sat alone and n the darkness in his living room, he thought “…I suddenly thought of Sonny. My trouble had made his real.” That situation lead to opportunity to reconnect with his brother. In a way “Sonny’s Blues” is like a song inspired by Sonny’s