A Comparison Of Sonny's Blues And A Streetcar Named Desire

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In both the short story “Sonny’s Blues” and play A Streetcar Named Desire, the main characters are siblings. Baldwin’s short story is based on two brothers whereas Williams’ play is about two sisters. Although they are opposite genders, the relationships between both pairs of siblings are similar. In both pieces, the siblings let a significant time lapse without having contact, there is a predominantly stable sibling, and one of each sibling is neglected during a time of need. At the start of A Streetcar Named Desire, Stella’s sister Blanche makes her entrance during scene one. It is clear that Stella and Blanche have not spoken for some time and Stella is not expecting her sister’s arrival. As is in Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” Sonny

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