What Is The Tone Of Sonny's Blues

The Language Everyone Knows

Music is one aspect of human existence that exists in every culture. It’s a universal language that everybody understands, enjoys, and takes part in. In James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” the central idea is that music provides a way for people to connect and understand each other. Sonny and the narrator have a complex relationship. While both characters love and care for each other, Sonny’s addictions have led them to become estranged from one another. By bridging the gap between the narrator and his estranged brother, Sonny, Baldwin shows how music can heal broken relationships. The final scene at the nightclub brings us to the pair in the midst of repairing their relationship. At this point Sonny has not played

The story is told from the narrator’s perspective, and his thoughts and feelings are evident throughout the story. The opening scene sets the stage by describing the darkness and turmoil of the narrator’s and Sonny’s shared past and present. The narrator describes how Sonny had “always been a good boy, he hadn’t ever turned hard or evil or disrespectful,” but one day he saw his brother change for the worse as he became an addict “in the condition I'd already seen so many others” (Baldwin 18). The reflective tone is evident in the narrator’s voice as he recounts his memories with Sonny and looks back on the struggles they both face. In the same scene, the narrator sadly admits the reality that he is “talking about algebra to a lot of boys who might…. be popping off needles” (Baldwin 18). This matter-of-fact statement creates the dark and solemn tone present throughout much of the

There are indeed many benefits of music, from decreasing anxiety to helping one filter out background noise (Enrenberg 32-33). However, it is not realistic to assume that everyone will experience every single one of the purported abilities of music. While the story serves as a reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding in our relationships with others, I believe this is an overly optimistic take on the benefits of music. As a musician myself, I have experienced the vast powers of music in my own life. However, my own experiences are vastly different from those in “Sonny’s Blues.” I have certainly noticed several benefits to music, such as an above average memory, as well as a capability to enter periods of hyperfocus to complete work quickly (Enrenberg 32-33). But an increased capacity for empathy and understanding is not one I have personally experienced. Regardless of my opinion, “Sonny’s Blues” is a moving narrative that describes the complexities of flawed human