The Narrator In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

1. Who is the main character (protagonist) in “Sonny’s Blues,” Sonny or the narrator? Are they equally important? In what way would the story be different if Sonny was the narrator?

The main character in “Sonny’s Blues” is the narrator, serving as a storyteller recounting his life experiences and reflecting on his past. Though the narrator is the main character, Sonny is a central character acting as a motivating factor in the narrator’s life. Through the narrator's words it is evident that Sonny’s experiences have a direct impact on his feelings, the narrator sharing “I felt that ice in my guts again, the dread I’d felt all afternoon” (660). The narrator and Sonny are equally important, but they each have distinct roles. Sonny’s character is the driving force of the narrative, as readers delve into his battle with addiction and his experiences as a struggling musician. The narrator serves as a contrasting perspective as he uses Sonny’s feelings and experiences to understand his own, which provides readers with a look inside the

The narrator also experiences a change at the end of the story, shifting from a brother who was struggling to understand his brother’s passion to a compassionate brother who understands the emotions that music evokes in his brother. The reason for their changes was Sonny’s musical performance. Through the performance Sonny is able to once again connect with music, and the narrator is able to see this connection and forms a new understanding of how his brother is able to express himself through music. The greatest change can be seen in the narrator, as his newfound understanding of his brother’s love for music allows him to bridge the emotional gap he once felt between himself and his brother voicing, “freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last”