Summary Of Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

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Throughout Baldwin’s story it is obvious that he places a large value on music, as well as art in general, as a way to express oneself. When the narrator and Sonny went to the nightclub, Sonny played the blues on the piano as part of a group of performers. While playing, the narrator noted how passionate Sonny became while playing the blues and and noted that “Creole seemed to be saying, listen. Now these are Sonny’s blues” (Baldwin 148). From this short line Baldwin’s emphasis on music can be seen as Sonny was directly portraying his feelings through a piano. This artistry helps convey to the reader that playing music is where Sonny belongs and that he can only truly convey what he wants to, not through words, but through music. Baldwin wishes

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