Thesis For Sonny's Blues

Environments can influence life choices, actions, emotions, along with much more. Those influences can be positive or negative. Two people can grow up in the same environment but can prevail in different ways. James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” takes place in Harlem, NY. The short story shows the narrator, who remains nameless, experiencing numerous of emotional struggles. It is an unquestionably poignant story, presenting countless endeavors. In specific, the narrator’s brother suffers from drug addiction, there multiple family deaths, as well as deteriorating relationships. Though there are troubling times, “Sonny’s Blues” is a genuinely heartwarming story. The story begins with the narrator on the subway heading to work. He works as

Although, he did what he felt was right at the time. During the time of their mother dying, he was a newlywed and was also getting his career together in the army. After their mother’s death, the narrator was soon returning to his station, leaving Sonny stay with his wife, Isabel and her family. Sonny always had dreams of becoming a jazz musician, but because of the era they were in and being the older brother, the narrator wanted better for Sonny. Sonny was stuck on being a jazz musician and wasn’t letting anything stop him. The living arrangements he had with Isabel and her family wore thin,

The narrator hesitates to start but goes to support his brother; while at the club Sonny introduces his brother to a few his band members like, Creole, the band leader. Once they began to perform, Sonny was a little shaky, but eventually adjusted just fine. At this moment the narrator finally saw Sonny doing what he loves, it made him look at his brother and his passion differently; the way Sonny and his band played almost brought his brother to tears. “Yet, there was no battle in his face now, I heard what he had gone through, and would continue to go through until he came to rest in earth… I saw my mother’s face again… I say the moonlit road where my father’s brother died… I saw my little girl again and felt Isabel’s tears again, and I felt my own tears begin to rise”