Personal Renewal in Sonny's Blues

“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin relies on music to convey the theme of hardships for both Sonny and his older brother. The relationship between the two siblings is rocky. “I didn't write Sonny or send him anything for a long time.” said the older brother. Jazz is able to bring both of them closer together and have a better understanding of one another. With the older brother appreciating Sonny’s love for jazz it also allows him to the troubles in both their lives.

During the time in prison, blues seems to be the music he can relate to, and it helps with his pain and suffering. Sonny realizes that music has a much better impact of his life versus his heroin addiction.Music has alwa... ... middle of paper ... ...the civil rights movement. This story has different aspects of the brothers’ lives and how they chose to cope with racism. The story also tells us how both brothers resolve their racism issues and have a relationship again. Sonny struggles in the beginning with his racism, he quits school, joins the service, gets mixed up with drugs, spends time in prison, and then finally he finds his outlet with music.

As the brothers struggle with their inner conflicts and outward environmental struggles, they are reunited through a common theme in the essay: music. Baldwin empowers Sonny with a gift of extraordinary musicianship, and uses this gift to enlighten and empower the narrator. Baldwin’s essay narrates the trials of the narrator on his journey to self- discovery and the brothers trial of rebuilding their brotherly bond with music as their guide. The essay uses music as a form of communication between the brothers and symbolizes it as a powerful force in their relationship. In Baldwin’s essay, “Sonny’s Blues”, the narrator and Sonny are empowered through music, and through this empowerment, the music is able to rekindle and rebuild the brothers relationship.

One of Baldwin’s literature pieces was Sonny’s Blues in which he describes a specific event that had a great impact on his relationship with his brother, Sonny. Having to deal with the life-style of poverty, his relationship with his brother becomes affected and rivalry develops. Conclusively, brotherly love is the theme of the story. Despite the narrator’s and his brother’s differences, this theme is revealed throughout the characters’ thoughts, feelings, actions, and dialogue. Therefore, the change in the narrator throughout the text is significant in understanding the theme of the story.

In conclusion, in the text of “The Scarlet Ibis” there are multiple reasons why Doodle strives to reach the competitive goals and what ways they reflect the narrators feelings. First, Doodle has a sense to be like his elder brother and pushes himself in that direction. Another goal that he strives to reach is to be self-sufficient, he is tired of being pushed around everywhere and not being able to be left alone. And you can see the reflection of these goals in the narrator because he is the main one to push and help Doodle complete these goals.

He returned to the United States in 1957 and became a major part of the civil rights movement. As one of the most popular authors of his time, Baldwin wrote about different problems such as sexual identity, family, church and life as an African American. (Rampersad) In “Sonny’s Blues,” he shows how a brother uses music to ease his suffering. James Baldwin was able to relate to the pain and suffering that jazz represents. Jazz music prospered in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

As the narrator is attending his brother’s performance he realizes music lifts the suffering from Sonny’s life. He uses the simile “like the very cup of trembling” (100). As a comparison to Sonny’s music that could relieve those who listen and Sonny from suffering. The reference to Isaiah 51:17 guides the reader to a scripture for more understanding. Even though Sonny’s sins aid him in suffering God promised he would restore those who believed.

Sonny’s Blues By James Baldwin Sonny’s Blues the author is presenting the past from the perspective of the present in order to understand his own feelings concerning the role of a father. The two brothers in the story had different life choices. Both Sonny and the narrator have found their own mode of escaping the violence and harshness of the ghetto, different though those modes might be. After the death of the mother the narrator feels he is his brother’s keeper, because of the promise he made to the mother. He is not exactly happy about it and especially Sonny’s life style.

Strong relationships are the foundation of life. Night by Elie Wiesel explores this topic by throwing a father and son relationship into a tragic event. As the book progresses, Elie Wiesel’s relationship with his father strengthens his will to survive, even though the events have driven them apart. In the book, family is shown to be important for one’s survival, then his father’s wellbeing becomes his sole reason for survival and in the end the relationship fades but still strengthens the ability to survive. In the book, family is an important reason for survival.

Sonny's brother point of view is shared in this story as he feels responsible to keep his brother safe. The brother learns to listen throughout this story to better understand Sonny's life. This story is primarily about Sonny's brothers' life, how he struggled in his life and how he is now watching his younger brother Sonny go through the same situation. He worries about Sonny's life; that Sonny might not be able to escape the turmoil that life brings especially being a musician with no ties to family and job security. Sonny's brother sees Sonny trying to become a jazz musician, he watches and listens as Sonny goes through many difficulties in life.