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The Struggle In Sonny's Blues By James Arthur Baldwin

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The short story suitably named “Sonny’s Blues” was written by James Arthur Baldwin. Baldwin sets the story in the late 1940’s, in Harlem, New York right after World War II. The Characters in this short story are The Narrator, who we ultimately learn is the round Character, Poverty plays the role of the flat character, Sonny and the others are the supporting characters. The plot of the story is the struggle of seeking salvation. Moreover the plot is revealed through two general conflicts, Man vs. Society, and Man vs. Himself. Baldwin display these conflicts through the strong theme of showing obligation towards Brotherly Love. In the short story Baldwin made it apparent it was the 1940s in a multitude of hints. For one the music, being jazz, …show more content…

Through hard work, studies and grinding his time away in academics the narrator was able to find salvation and even find himself a family where he keeps a stable financial status. Sonny on the other hand seem to have keep losing more and more as time went on. With his mother’s death that happened his only caregiver faded. Sonny found comfort with the wrong group of people. Knowing this he going into the army and goes to war to find salvation that way, the nightmare for him never ended though once he returned. Still out of money and still surrounded by the drugs he went into a life of crime that took him straight to prison. It was then that the narrator knew Sonny was really in bad shape, but it wasn’t until the narrator’s daughter died that he knew he had been a bad brother. Lacking the brotherly love was supposed to give Sonny as the favor to his mother was a major role towards why Sonny ended in prison. Poverty in Harlem was harsh and unforgiving for Sonny and the narrator not being there for him was what ultimately led Sonny into such a badly influenced life. The narrator wasn’t a bad person though he just wasn’t conscious of his actions he was a busy man with a family to take care of and even though he felt for his brother he didn’t have the resources to spend to help his brother. Sonny wasn’t particularly stable even before the separation of him and his brother. His mom

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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.

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Sonny, a jazz musician from Harlem, New York City, who took a different way from his brother and not the best decisions, but destiny took him back to his brother looking forward to starting over. Sonny’s Blues published in 1957 by James Baldwin is a true story that happened to the author. When Sonny is released after he gets caught for sealing and consuming heroin, his brother and his brother’s wife, James and Isabel received him in their house after long time not knowing a word from him. The story shows that even tough that Sonny did not chose the correct decisions about his life, he was a person with no malice, just that he raised in the wrong place.

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The narrator keeps this in mind and tries to sway Sonny to a path he feels is right for him. Sonny wants to go into music however the narrator feels it would be

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Most of us have struggled in our lives with depression because of the pressure with academics and also expectations that our families and friends have from us. Some deal with this stress by doing something fun doing their free time or taking a break. The story of the man named Sonny shows us that inner hope which sparks whenever we face very stressful situations. This short story called, “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, shows us that any kind of problem can be channeled to make a positive output if we put enough effort in what we do for others and ourselves. At first, The narrator was not convinced in helping his brother Sonny to get over his drug abuse during prison because he was not able to see the problems that lied within his brother

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Although both characters were different they found an understanding by trying to feel what each other were feeling. Also by coping with their tough childhood and feelings together without directly communicating. Sonny wanted so desperately to please his brother, but couldn’t find a way to avoid Jazz but still get that feeling he craved. Sonny was clearly disappointed and embarrassed by his choice of actions and despite what anyone said, he realized the choice he made was poor and it was time to follow his dream. At the end, the narrator realizes why Sonny turned to drugs in the first place.

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“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin is a short story that has many significant parts to it. The narrator gives readers insight on how his relationship with his brother was like, how his brother was suffering from a heroin addiction. The narrator also gives the readers insight on his own problems. Due to Sonny’s heroin addiction, he suffered quite a lot as what was implied in the story. The narrator implies and describes so many themes in this short story.

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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.

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James Baldwin is a renowned author best known for his work of essays, books and short stories, particularly those which dwell deeply into important social and psychological issues of discrimination, gender inequality, homophobia and so on. One of Mr. Baldwin 's most appreciated literary works is the short story 'Sonny 's Blues ' which focuses on two brothers who grew up together but take different paths in life. The story follows the narrator learning about his brother Sonny 's incarceration due to the use and selling of drugs until his brother gets parole. Throughout the story, we learn about the relationship between the pair and are able to witness the narrators ultimate understanding of Sonny and his ambition. As we continue to observe the impressive short story, we find the most recurring theme to be that of sorrow.

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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.

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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.

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Sonny Blues Paul Pearshall once said “Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted”. In this story the conflict of responsibility takes place. A brother, who happens to be the narrator, blames his self for the events that takes place in his life, such as his brother sonny’s crack addiction. The Narrator feels responsible for his brother’s heroin addiction because he believed he shut his brother’s career goals down, felt as though he went against what his mother asked him to do, and because he chose not to believe that the way he treated his brother affected his brother life.

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One will constantly face temporary conflict throughout life, but ultimately they can overcome through a will to on and pursue what makes oneself happy. Baldwin was able to create a picture in the reader's mind due to his personal relation to his characters, he was able to understand the harsh times for an African-American male. It also reflects on the care that siblings have for one another and how even though they have good intentions, they can't always help their loved one follow a positive

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(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.

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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.

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Sonny is the main character in the story who has been through a lot in life. He wanted to be a jazz musician. After going through all the trouble, Sonny was a great musician and he loved to play music more than anything. He used music to escape from all the bad things around him. Most black people grow up in the slums and it is extremely hard to make it out of there without getting stuck on something bad.

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