When the narrator discusses his students, he says: As his students approach adulthood, they realize how limited their opportunities will be. 1245 Words5 Pages. For Sonny, the answer to suffering may lie within the darkness, not in escaping it. As a young African American male born in Harlem, sonny is aware of the limits and obstacles he faces. Baldwin is also known for exploring cultural and societal issues owing from his experiences as an African American in America during the period of widespread racism and segregation. The darkness outside is what the old folks have been talking about. "Sonny's Blues" starts off with an unnamed narrator reading a newspaper. Essay, Pages 7 (1648 words) Views. Sometime I think I'm going to flip and never get outside and sometime I think I'll come straight back. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! In summation, "Sonny's Blues" is a fictional adaptation of the real, deep-rooted experience of the American Negro. Hearing Sonny play only one set he is in awe and sends his brother a drink of scotch with milk. When I saw him many things I thought I had forgotten came flooding back to me. The sun had vanished, soon darkness would fall. Sonny, is the name the readers are captivated with. The city of Harlem is of great importance because of the situation depicted in the 1950s whereby African Americans went through social issues such as poverty, drug abuse, insecurity, violence, conflicts, prostitution, and the rise of the music culture (Claborn 92). The imprisonment aspect of Sonny does not, therefore, relate to my life. The author is positive towards the idea of redemption as he believes that there is light in the darkness they were facing. However, it is not until the end of the story when Sonnys brother narrates the powerful, melodic sound of Sonnys blues that he acknowledges his own pain. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. The story was a great revelation to me on the importance of family and home. My clothes were wet-I may have looked as though I'd been sitting in a steam bath, all dressed up, all afternoon. The narrator in this story is an interesting figure. Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin Plot Summary | LitCharts He struggles with the being around the same environment, so he decided by moving away from Harlem his problems will go away and he can start his career as a musician, unlike his brother the narrator has a wife, two children, and a good job as a teacher. A teacher passed through them every now and again, quickly, as though he or she couldn't wait to get out of that courtyard, to get those boys out of their sight and off their minds. When he was about as old as the boys in my classes his face had been bright and open, there was a lot of copper in it; and hed had wonderfully direct brown eyes, and great gentleness and privacy (Baldwin, 1957, pg. Would you like to get this essay by email? He realizes that Sonny is in his element while playing music and that the blues are his way of keeping madness and ruination at bay, as Sonny's life is difficult. On the west side-I haven't seen the city in so long. 2 Pages | 872 Words. Baldwin uses the blues to shape his short story, paralleling Sonny's musical use of the blues. Therefore, Sonnys Blues was imperative in influencing and presenting the setting of the story. At the club, the narrator begins to appreciate the value of Sonny's music as a response to suffering and he sends over a drink to show his respect. In the black society setting, particularly the 1950s on New York streets, music served as the foundation of African American populations culture. The brothers grew up in Harlem, where the narrator still lives. 1. The narrator is a high school algebra teacher and he is a responsible husband and father. Baldwins Sonnys Blues displays the theme of brotherly love to illustrate, that love can keep a family together no matter how many fights or issues there may be. When she smiled one saw the little girl, one sensed the doomed, still-struggling woman beneath the battered face of the semi-whore. Registered office: Creative Tower, Fujairah, PO Box 4422, UAE. However, as time goes on, there are more and more successful African. The playground is most popular with the children who don't play at jacks, or skip rope, or roller skate, or swing, and they can be found in it after dark. "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin was first published in 1957, which places it at the heart of the civil rights movement in the United States. Black Music Energizes Black Literature: Blues in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues., Claborn, John. . As noted from the story, the speakers uncle was murdered by a white men who ran him over without any remorse. by David Wheeler | Dec 15, 2011. The story is a reminder that no matter what difficult situation I might be facing at this given time, there is always hope of redemption. The author chooses this method of presentation to bring out the main idea of the story. It was mocking and insular, its intent was to denigrate. ", Yet when the musicians start to play, "the lights on the bandstand, on the quartet, turned to a kind of indigo. He must want to die, he's killing himself, why does he want to die?". #2. At the end of the story Sonny invites the narrator to come to a music club and hear him play, he accepts the invite. He knows that every time this happens he's moved just a little closer to that darkness outside. The story reminds me of the life of Mabel from The Horse Dealer's Daughter who went through the same suffering after losing her father. Kindle Edition. I started collecting my stuff. Using conclusions gleaned from a detailed reading of the primary text, as . Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love. James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues.docx - 1 Student's Name See a complete list of the characters in Sonny's Blues and in-depth analyses of The Narrator, Sonny, and Mother. Neither did they dare to make a great scene about that piano because even they dimly sensed, as I sensed, from so many thousands of miles away that Sonny was at that piano playing for his life. The reader gets introduced to the narrators life as a teacher in Harlem. An incredibly touching piece of writing, beautifully executed. The story of Sonny is similar to my life in the aspects of family relations aspect. This narrator recently discovered the arrest of his younger brother for the accusations of selling and using heroin. "It can come again," he said, almost as though speaking to himself. In this case, that sort of thing being nearly perfectly crafted fiction. While it could easily be seen that racism is one . It considers the possibility of understanding Baldwin's fictional text as a statement on reading social as well as subjective 'problems' as universal across contexts. Understanding the narrators story, the reader starts to recognize the setting in which it takes place as well as his relationship with his family. The text is similar to various good reads as they always give hope to the hopeless. He takes Sonny back to his own family's apartment. The central idea about Sonny's Blues is redemption. It is also evident that the narrators mother had asked him to take care of Sonny, I want to talk to you about your brother, if anything happens to me he aint going to have nobody to look out for him (Baldwin 26). on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Sometimes it hardened and seemed to expand until I felt my guts were going to come spilling out or that I was going to choke or scream. The story is relevant to the world today as many of the youths go through the same situation as that of Sonny. Read 345 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Sonny never wanted drugs, he wanted. The encounters that the characters have with those around them bring to light the fundamental African American experience in the United States; one of suffering. In the end, though, what does Sonny teach the narrator? Sonnys Blues starts off with an unnamed narrator reading a newspaper. Written in 1957 by an African-American author James Baldwin the piece . The author utilizes conflict, symbolism, and the narrators point of view to give the story a deeper meaning and significance to the story. It's on "a short, dark street," and the narrator tells us that "the lights were very dim in this room and we couldn't see.". I'm telling you this because you got a brother. I felt that in another moment I'd start crying like a child. Analysis of "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin - ThoughtCo This clearly shows that Sonny is not interested in staying in Harlem due to the fact that his music career is under threat from his brother and other people who do not believe in him and music. The music stopped, the barmaid paused and watched the juke box until the music began again. Oh, yes. The arguments depict the fact that the older siblings misunderstood their younger siblings and tried to dictate and change who they actually are, more so concerning their careers. While his brother feels like he could never truly explain anything to the narrator. #8. One of the best stories I've ever read this year. Throughout the story he struggles to keep this promise. But don't you forget what I told you, you hear?". The story tells of two black brothers' struggle to understand one another. Through the story, the author creates relevance and connection of different aspects ranging from characters, setting, and literary devices to bring forth the theme of music as depicted through Sonnys Blues.. Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. Is your time best spent reading someone elses essay? This led him to try and change his idea of venturing into music as a career, while he thought there was more appealing careers out there one could accomplish for a living. It kept melting, sending trickles of ice water all up and down my veins, but it never got less. From simple essay plans, through to full dissertations, you can guarantee we have a service perfectly matched to your needs. Throughout the story, we learn about the relationship between the pair and are able to witness the narrators ultimate understanding of Sonny and his ambition. #1. The narrator goes ahead to describe a story of pain, prejudice, and suffering. I got to get outside. Looking at the light on the bandstand, the narrator tells us that the musicians are "careful not to step into that circle of light too suddenly: that if they moved into the light too suddenly, without thinking, they would perish in the flame. Baldwin cleverly attacks the constructs of racism in American society by using himself and his life experiences as a . Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin Sonny's Blues book. That's all." Read our full plot summary of Sonny's Blues.. James Baldwin, Born 90 Years Ago, Is Fading in Classrooms - The New James Baldwin spent most of his adult life living in France, but is widely recognized as an essentially American writer. Then he stood up and he told me not to worry about him any more in life, that he was dead as far as I was concerned. And his triumph, when he triumphs, is ours. Sonnys Bebop: Baldwins Blues Text as Intracultural Critique.. It's a wonder it doesn't blow the avenue apart.". Harlem, Communal Affect, and the Great Migration Narrative in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues., Clark, Michael. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 The story takes place in the project of Harlem, New York in the early 1950s. From the minute you start reading the short story in the opening paragraph it refers to the biggest symbolic motif Baldwin uses throughout the entire story, which is light and dark. Wonderful writing depicting its time and how we probably havent moved that much forward. It is at once painful and beautiful. One name stands out to him, in shock, the readers learn it was his brother who was involved. Can't much help old Sonny no more, I guess, "I'm surprised at Sonny, though," he went on-he had a funny way of talking, he looked straight ahead as though he were talking to himself-"I thought Sonny was a smart boy, I thought he was too smart to get hung. James Baldwin starts the story with the narrator reading the paper on the subway, in that paper, he sees devastating news. ", But houses exactly like the houses of our past yet dominated the landscape, boys exactly like the boys we once had been found themselves smothering in these houses, came down into the streets for light and air and found themselves encircled by disaster. After Sonnys return from war, he met with his brother in New York. It is also a fictional account of some of the life experiences of the author, himself an American Negro. ", And I watched her face as she laughingly responded to something someone said to her, still keeping time to the music. The child knows that they won't talk any more because if he knows too much about what's happened to them, he'll know too much too soon, about what's going to happen to him. James Baldwins Sonnys Blues is a short story depicting the relationship of two brothers, Sonny and an unnamed narrator. You're pretty goddamn smart, I bet.". I couldnt believe it: but what I mean by that is that I couldnt find any room for it anywhere inside me. Free trial is available to new customers only. All work is written to order. The narrator goes ahead to describe a story of pain, prejudice, and suffering. Study Guides, James Baldwin & Sonny's Blues Background, Historical Context: Black Americans and Post-World War II America. #35. Ya'll rock!If you have any requests for short stories or poetry, please let me know in the comments. At the end of the story the narrator finally develops a new understanding for his brother, and forgives him. Perhaps I was listening to them because I was thinking about my brother and in them I heard my brother. When he was about as old as the boys in my classes his face had been bright and open, there was a lot of copper in it; and he'd had wonderfully direct brown eyes, and great gentleness and privacy. The silence of the next few days must have been louder than the sound of all the music ever played since time began. This article uses a discussion of Baldwin's short story 'Sonny's blues' as a means of exploring reading and approaches to drug literature. "I think people ought to do what they want to do, what else are they alive for? Character List The Narrator Sonny Mother The light from the bandstand spilled just a little short of them and watching them laughing and gesturing and moving about, I had the feeling that they, nevertheless, were being most careful not to step into that circle of light too suddenly; that if they moved into the light too suddenly, without thinking, they would perish in flame. Through this, the author also goes ahead to explore the underlying theme of racism, which is evident in the text. The Horse-Dealer's Daughter. Sonnys ambition to become a jazz pianist points him into an opposite direction than his brother, and into a place where the common suffering is handled with drugs and music. I heard somebody laugh in the room and then the tears came to my eyes. I'd never played the role of the oldest brother quite so seriously before, had scarcely ever, in fact, asked Sonny a damn thing. Catherine Sustana, Ph.D., is a fiction writer and a former professor of English at Hawaii Pacific University. Through this short story Baldwin manages to show pain ,and hardships and the journey that is needed to transcend from. One boy was whistling a tune, at once very complicated and very simple, it seemed to be pouring out of him as though he were a bird, and it sounded very cool and moving through all that harsh, bright air, only just holding its own through all those other sounds. He had a big voice, too, and heads in the darkness turned toward us. I was sitting in the living room in the dark, by myself, and I suddenly thought of Sonny. Sonny's Blues James Baldwin Full Audiobook Du Bon Mot 2.06K subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 99K views 2 years ago If this video helped you, please consider donating to my audiobook career so I. Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin: Literary Analysis | Studymode He paused, I couldn't bear to watch him, I watched the barmaid, and I listened to the music which seemed to be causing the pavement to shake. Baldwins acknowledgement as he declares, I knew, no matter what anybody said, that the future I faced, was not the future they faced. Articles Review on Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin - CollegeEssayWriter Sonny did not welcome the idea, but reluctantly agreed to avoid another conflict, you decided it, look brother, I dont want to stay Harlem no more, I really dont (Baldwin 33). For both men the blues are a means for expressing themselves. 202 Dr. Hadley Mozer 2/10/17 The short story that I chose to write a literary analysis on is James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues. If your specific country is not listed, please select the UK version of the site, as this is best suited to international visitors. You walk these streets, black and funky and cold, and there's not really a living ass to talk to, and there's nothing shaking, and there's no way of getting it out- that storm inside. $2.99 $ 2. After accompanying Sonny to the performance, the narrator realizes how people adore him and for the first time, he was able to see Sonny being appreciated by many people for what he was doing. But it would all have sounded-empty words and lies. Sonny's blues. It's repulsive to think you have to suffer that much. Being black in America for most people means you have to face discrimination, and live the hard life at slums. When Sonny is released from prison, he moves in with his brother's family. SpeedyPaper.com 2023 All rights reserved. All I know about music is that not many people ever really hear it. While Sonny and his eldest brother both are the center of the stories content, Baldwin uses Sonny to represent a challenge to the narrator of the story. Isn't it better, then, just to-take it?". | The story employs flashback to recall on the narrators past life with the narrators parents and how music served in the family through their father. While watching his students, he finally started to imagine him as he was. ThoughtCo. Maybe it did more for them than algebra could. Through flashback, the author is also able to give the audience a picture of what happened before the beginning of the story and how music has been the center of the two brothers constant misunderstandings. Symbolism Of Light And Dark In Sonny's Blues | ipl.org He notes that: Though both Sonny and the narrator have traveled the world by enlisting in the military, they have both ended up back in Harlem. 'Sonny's Blues' by James Baldwin - A Critical Analysis. It's what they've come from. Baldwin focused on the life of Sonny, who was narrated from the point of view of his brother, as Sonny was arrested by the authorities for possession of drugs. Yet there is a sense that this darkness provides safety for Sonny, rather than menace. The two brothers then stay in constant communication. Sonny decided to clean up and live with his brother. My Dad has a small collection of Penguin 60s short story books which I will work my way through. Watch on. The catharsis Baldwin grants both the reader and the narrator is seeing Sonny find a way to defuse his suffering. Reading James Baldwin Now: Farah Jasmine Griffin on "Sonny's Blues Here, I was in Sonny's world. Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin | Analysis His face relaxed a little. The narrator was more mature and had set goals. Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin 6,712 ratings, 4.28 average rating, 438 reviews Sonny's Blues Quotes Showing 1-22 of 22 "For, while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. James Baldwin establishes this implication through the use of his characters; the narrator, Sonny, and the singer seen on the street. The story takes the reader through pain, suffering, alienation, and anger of the main character. He had a background as a preacher, so a text from the Book . Summary Read our full plot summary of "Sonny's Blues." Full Book Full Plot Summary Characters See a complete list of the characters in "Sonny's Blues" and in-depth analyses of The Narrator, Sonny, and Mother. James Baldwins short story, Sonnys Blues, tells the story of two brothers living in 1950s Harlem. One of Mr. Baldwin 's most appreciated literary works is the short story 'Sonny 's Blues ' which focuses on two brothers who grew up together but take different paths in life. Sonny's Blues was written in the first person point of view, who is Sonny's brother. In James Baldwin's short story "Sonny's Blues" there is a large array of symbolism. Rather, they've done it with hard work and "torment. Sonnys Blues touches on the life of Sonnys character who is seen to undergo emotional pain and suffering in several years as an orphan and a drug addict in a poor neighborhood of African Americans (Claborn 94). The story takes the reader through pain, suffering, alienation, and anger of the main character. #19. Then he turned to me. The death of the father became a revelation to Mabel, and her three brothers of how deep their family was in debt. #26. The broken relationship between the brothers was on the mend due to the narrator. 129). The narrator cares for his brother and feels as if he has failed him. First published in 1957, Sonnys Blues, perhaps Baldwins best known and most widely anthologized short story, was later collected in the volume Going to Meet the Man (1965). Sonny's Blues - James Baldwin - YouTube I read it, and I couldn't believe it, and I read it again. He's a high school algebra teacher, and he looks at his young students, wondering which ones are, like Sonny, turning to . Then they all came together again, and Sonny was part of the family again. The narrator laments that the dangers of darkness is the fact that the students cannot see looming danger ahead, as explained in the text, drugs will do of them that algebra could (Baldwin 18). 99. . James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues": A Message in Music #23. It is during his epiphany, when he finally begins to understand Sonnys pain and the pain of every generation who came before him and after him. Sonny's Blues makes use of symbolism such as jazz and blues music, imagery such as ice and allegory. Study for free with our range of university lectures! Who Set You Feelin? Great On Kindle: A high quality digital reading experience. All they really knew were two darknesses, the darkness of their lives, which was now closing in on them, and the darkness of the movies, which had blinded them to that other darkness. I wanted to talk about will power and how life could bewell, beautiful. His situation doesn't seem much different from that of the older people he remembers from childhood. And we would certainly have called the doctor, but the fever dropped, she seemed to be all right. "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin is an account given from the perspective of a brother to a heroin addict in Harlem.