thesis statement examples for sonny's blues

Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › Literature › Analysis of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues

Analysis of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on June 20, 2021

“Sonny’s Blues” is a first-person account by an AfricanAmerican schoolteacher trying to come to terms with his younger brother, Sonny, a jazz musician and sometime heroin addict. Some of James Baldwin ’s thematic preoccupations can be ascertained by noting the subtle variations and quasi-musical interplay of motifs: darkness (both atmospheric and existential), (in)audible attempts to articulate or testify, and the spatial coordinates of inside/outside (a complex motif entailing withdrawal into privacy, the filling of voids, and the impulse to escape or transcend compression).

The story begins as a retrospect from darkness. Shocked to read a newspaper account of his brother’s arrest for drug use, the unnamed narrator stares vacantly at his face reflected in the train window, “trapped in the darkness which roared outside” (831). Darkness recurs periodically throughout the narrator’s reminiscence and is often associated with the menace of the outer world. The narrator remembers Sundays at twilight, when as a child he felt “the darkness coming” while registering with anxiety the adults talking darkly of a dark past. His obscure intimations of the possibility of their death are not dispelled when someone turns on a light. Indeed, “when light fills the room, the child is filled with darkness. He knows that every time this happens he’s moved just a little closer to that darkness outside,” which he must endure as his ancestors always have (841–842). One of the incursions of darkness endured by his people has been the murderous running over by whites of his father’s brother, a musician. The narrator’s mother testifies that his father had “never in his life seen any thing as dark as that road after the lights of that car had gone away” (844). As an adult, the narrator muses on the less overt aspects of the darkness that envelops his students: “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, and in which they now, vindictively, dreamed at once more together than they were at any other time, and more alone” (832).

The narrator begins to realize after many years of conflict with his brother that the blues and jazz represent the antithesis of this escape through distraction into alienated solitude. They constitute a negotiation and transformation of darkness and suffering. Creole, the leader of Sonny’s group, testifies with his bass how innovative jazz approaches to the blues (in this case, be bop) are retelling the tales of “how we suffer . . . and how we may triumph” because they are “the only light we’ve got in all this darkness” (862). However, the intense revelations of light are also risky and potentially destructive. Sitting “in a dark corner” watching his brother and his colleagues preparing to play in their “circle of light,” the narrator notes that they are “most careful not to step into [it] too suddenly,” as if “they would perish in flame” (860). The external dimensions of the darkness of suffering and the light’s threat of exposure are associated with social conditions and a historical legacy, but their existential coordinate is associated with the inner conditions of the self. As Sonny tries, haltingly, to communicate the parameters of where heroin had found him and taken him, his brother notices that “the sun had vanished, soon darkness would fall.” This temporal observation stimulates an intimation of another kind of encroaching darkness: the possibility of Sonny’s relapse, encapsulated by his brother’s warning “It can come again” (859).

The narrator sees Sonny in his students because they are approximately the age that his brother was when he started heroin use and are “filled with rage,” much as Sonny must have been, because of “the low ceiling of their actual possibilities” (832). The narrator’s perception, suffused with guilt and pathos, is acutely attuned to their laughter, which is “insular” with disenchantment (832). Given the story’s preoccupation with finding one’s voice and the riskiness of light, it is significant that when the narrator hears one of the boys whistling, “it seemed to be pouring out of him as though he were a bird . . . moving through all that harsh, bright air, only just holding its own through all those other sounds” (832). After one of his quarrels with Sonny, the emotionally inhibited narrator whistles a blues song “to myself” so as not to cry (852). Baldwin’s images of the (in)audible entail other forms of what might be called injured communication. The narrator inadvertently reveals his cold, uptight-emotional tendencies when he describes “a great block of ice” that “seemed to expand until I felt . . . I was going to choke or scream” (831). The scream of his brother is said to have haunted the narrator’s father the rest of his life, while screaming and choking converge in the memory of the narrator’s traumatized wife, who discovers their daughter, Grace, struggling for air enough to scream: “And when she did scream, it was the worst sound . . . that she’d ever heard in all her life, and she still hears it sometimes in her dreams” (852). The narrator also reports that his wife “will sometimes wake me up with a low, moaning, strangled sound” (852).

Music transmutes these injured sounds, as it does the suffering from which they issue. But the spirituals sung by the street singers, which express a people’s desire for liberation, are contemplated with the ambivalence that Baldwin shows toward African-American Christianity throughout his work. Although everyone has heard these songs, “not one of them had been rescued. Nor had they seen much in the way of rescue work being done around them” (853). The usually passive Sonny forcefully expresses his own ambivalence: “It’s repulsive to think you have to suffer that much” (856). That said, these spirituals not only constitute a major emotional foundation of the blues and jazz, they articulate the quasi-spiritual themes resonating in Baldwin’s description of Sonny’s wilderness wandering and prospects for salvation. Sonny’s piano playing is best understood, as his brother understands it, as a form of “testifying”—a bearing witness to suffering and redemptive aspiration in the manner of the spirituals (853). Thus, when Sonny finally takes his solo from the group, “Every now and again one of them seemed to say, amen” (863). However, before the withdrawn and inarticulate Sonny can speak for himself through his piano, he must first struggle “to find a way to listen” to the soul of the music and to the turbulent, not-yet music in his own soul (857). It is for this reason all the more painful to realize that “ nobody ’s listening.” This situation constitutes a tacit silence inasmuch as he might just as well not be playing. Ultimately, silence testifies to the absence of existential attunement. The narrator belatedly realizes that he “had held silence—so long!” while Sonny, in need of “human speech” and under the pressure of unarticulated feelings, was turning to heroin in the hope of relief (856).

Baldwin’s story insists on the need to escape constricted, pressure-filled spaces. The narrator’s insistence on conventional obligation and responsibility has long put him at odds with his hipster brother’s desire for self-liberation, which he judges an escape from wisdom (838). He feels threatened listening to Sonny’s old friend talk about drug highs, as a jukebox plays: “All this was carrying me some place I didn’t want to go. . . . It filled everything . . . with menace” (835). At the same time he resonates to the lifelong effects of the “smothering” Harlem ghetto, “filled with a hidden menace which was its very breath of life” (839). He remembers how the people “came down into the streets for light and air and found themselves encircled by disaster.” Those who escaped did so “as some animals amputate a leg and leave it in the trap” (839). The new government housing project fails as a haven, a cleared space, because “the hedges will never hold out the streets” and the windows “aren’t big enough to make space out of no space” (839).

Space is not merely a circumscribed set of physical or even social coordinates but an existential-psychological domain of self-definition. Sonny’s greatest pain has resulted from his failure to escape the confines of the sealed space of his privacy. Challenged, he “just moves back inside himself, where he can’t be reached” (840), to “the distant stillness in which he had always moved” (837). Baldwin coordinates inside/outside with the imagery of darkness/light, as when the narrator recalls how Sonny “looked out from the depths of his private life an animal waiting to be coaxed into the light” (837). His inaccessibility makes him seem “some sort of god, or monster . . . as though he were all wrapped up in some cloud, some fire” (850). Inside/ outside is also linked to the (in)audible inasmuch as Sonny’s blues entail the struggle to find a “way of getting it out—that storm inside” (857).

Spatial prepositions are made emphatic the only time Sonny speaks at length to his brother in the attempt to explain what heroin had done for him: “When I was most out of the world, I felt that I was in it, that I was with it, really, and I could play . . . it just came out of me, it was there” (858). Baldwin also deploys spatializing tropes to characterize the addicting quality inherent in music’s capacity to remove the listener from unsatisfying contexts, especially the constricted dimensions of the self. Sonny compares the affect of the street singer’s voice to the feeling of being “distant” yet “in control” that heroin produced— a feeling “you’ve got to have” (855). It had been the need “to clear a space to listen ”—and the inability to locate that place—that had deposited him “all by myself at the bottom of something” (858). Sonny believes that his use of drugs helped him reject unavoidable suffering, “to keep from drowning in it, to keep on top of it.” It had been a means of making him responsible, of providing some demonstrable reason, for that suffering. The conversation ends with a spatial displacement, as Sonny looks onto the street below and observes, “All that hatred and misery and love down there. It’s a wonder it doesn’t blow the avenue apart” (859). There is an especially significant spatializing term in Baldwin’s story. The narrator feels remorse that he has not followed his mother’s counsel regarding Sonny, “you got to let him know you’s there ” (845). And his account culminates with his being there to bear witness and to testify to what his brother undergoes “up there” on the illuminated bandstand.

Descending to the bottom without being destroyed becomes the challenge of Sonny’s playing. Creole, another “witness,” urges Sonny with his bass to “strike out for the deep water . . . that deep water and drowning were not the same thing—he had been there and he knew.” As the narrator watches his brother move “deep within” himself toward the music, he becomes aware of the void that must somehow be made into a livable space—how “awful” it must be for the musician to have “to fill” his instrument “with the breath of life, his own.” The narrator evokes, in terms that are both spatial and redolent with the (in)audible, the pressurized threat that making music entails: “The man who creates the music . . . is dealing with the roar rising from the void and imposing order on it as it hits the air . . . more terrible because it has no words” (861). Finishing, “Creole and Sonny let out their breath, both soaking wet,” as much from depths descended as from sweat (863).

The story’s recurring references to breath and to personal atmosphere can be profitably linked to the death by constriction of Grace, which functions as a kind of grace. Sitting alone in the dark after burying his daughter and thinking of Sonny, the narrator begins to recognize that “my trouble made his real” (852). Baldwin seems to suggest by this that the inwardness of self need not be hermetic and might provide a route to others. Yet the narrator also remarks “that not many people ever really hear” music, and even “on the rare occasions when something opens within, and the music enters, what we mainly hear, or hear corroborated, are personal, private, vanishing evocations” (861). This principle is perhaps applicable to the narrator’s own concluding description of Sonny’s playing, which does not evoke the music as music so much as the thematic burden the brother is capable of hearing or would like to think he heard. In accord with this principle, the narrator reveals a newfound peace of mind, with but a residue of unease, when he designates the drink he sends his brother “the very cup of trembling” as it glows in the stage lights and shakes with the playing of the band (864). This designation arises from the same biblical source as the spirituals, being an audible renunciation, delivered by a prophet, of God’s threat to destroy a community: “Therefore now hear this, thou afflicted and drunken, but not with wine. . . . Behold I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt drink it no more” (Isaiah 51:21–22).

Literary Criticism of James Baldwin

BIBLIOGRAPHY Baldwin, James. “Sonny’s Blues.” In Early Novels and Stories. New York: Library of America, 1998. Jones, Jacqueline C. “Finding a Way to Listen: The Emergence of the Hero as an Artist in James Baldwin’s ‘Sonny’s Blues.’ ” CLA Journal 42, no. 4 (1999): 462–482. Sherrard, Tracey. “Sonny’s Bebop: Baldwin’s ‘Blues Text’ as Intracultural Critique.” African American Review 32, no. 4 (Winter 1998): 691–704.

Share this:

Categories: Literature , Short Story

Tags: African Literature , American Literature , Analysis of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , appreciation of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , criticism of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , essays of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , guide of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , James Baldwin , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues analysis , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues appreciation , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues essays , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues guide , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues notes , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues plot , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues story , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues structure , James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues themes , Literary Criticism , plot of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , racism in James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , story of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , summary of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues , themes of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues

Related Articles

You must be logged in to post a comment.

English Studies

This website is dedicated to English Literature, Literary Criticism, Literary Theory, English Language and its teaching and learning.

“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin: Analysis

“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin wrote, which was first published in Partisan Review in 1957, later appeared in Baldwin’s 1965 collection of short stories, “Going to Meet the Man.”

“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

Table of Contents

“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin wrote, which was first published in Partisan Review in 1957, later appeared in Baldwin’s 1965 collection of short stories, “Going to Meet the Man.” Since its publication, “Sonny’s Blues” has gained widespread critical acclaim and popularity, and it has become one of Baldwin’s most celebrated works. The story has appeared in numerous anthologies, and scholars have analyzed and discussed it extensively, particularly for its themes of brotherhood, race, and music. Additionally, it has inspired adaptations for both the stage and screen, demonstrating the enduring impact and relevance of Baldwin’s work.

Main Events in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

• The narrator, a high school teacher in Harlem, learns that his younger brother, Sonny, has been arrested for using and selling drugs.
• The narrator reflects on their childhood and the strained relationship between him and Sonny due to their differing personalities and experiences.
• Sonny is released from prison and comes to live with the narrator and his family.
• The narrator witnesses Sonny play jazz piano at a club, and is struck by the power and emotion of his music.
• Sonny explains to the narrator that playing jazz is his way of expressing the pain and suffering he has experienced in his life.
• The narrator becomes more empathetic towards Sonny and begins to understand the challenges he has faced as a black man in America.
• The narrator visits his mother and learns about the family’s history of suffering, including the death of their uncle, a heroin addict.
• Sonny invites the narrator to hear him play at a concert, where he performs a powerful and emotional piece that moves the audience.
• After the concert, the brothers reconcile and have a deep conversation about their past and future.
• The story ends with the narrator watching Sonny play, feeling a sense of connection and understanding that he never thought was possible between them.

Literary Devices in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

1. Symbolism

• Darkness: Represents suffering, fear, and the unknown. “All I know about darkness is what it feels like and what it smells like.”
• Light: Symbolizes hope, understanding, and moments of clarity. “Then the lights would begin to go out… and something would begin to gleam.”
• Music (The Blues): Symbolizes Sonny’s emotional expression, his way of processing pain, and a connection to a shared cultural heritage. “…the only light we could see… was the light from the juke box… I listened to Sonny.”

2. Metaphor

• Suffering as a cup of trembling: Conveys the overwhelming nature of pain, despair, and addiction. “…please try to find out what goes on inside you, in order to create… I want to know how much suffering you’ve had to endure to make you tell such stories – like the one about the woman… holding that cup of trembling.”
• Heroin as a means of control: Sonny describes how the drug makes him feel powerful against life’s struggles. “It makes you feel in control. Sometimes you’ve got to have that feeling.”
• Darkness is like a swallowed razor blade: Emphasizes the sharp, cutting pain of living in inner turmoil. “It’s terrible sometimes, inside… that’s what’s the matter with Creole. … He was always in the dark… It’s like a razor blade there.”
• The subway as an inescapable force: The claustrophobic environment mirrors the narrator’s internal struggle with his brother’s problems. “I read it, and I couldn’t believe it, and I read it again. Then perhaps I just stared at it, at the newsprint spelling out his name, spelling out the story. I stared at it in the swinging lights of the subway car…”

4. Personification

• Darkness with a presence: Used to give darkness a tangible and oppressive quality. “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.”
• Vivid descriptions of Harlem: Baldwin paints a detailed picture of the neighborhood, evoking its atmosphere and the challenges faced by residents. “…rows of houses, dark brown and dark grey… the babysitters, and the boys, and the shuffleboard games, and the tired, dissipated women…”

6. Foreshadowing

• Sonny’s early struggles: Hints at Sonny’s future path with addiction and trouble. “Heroin… It was not like marijuana. It was something special.”
• The narrator’s job as a teacher: Despite his efforts to instruct and protect younger generations, his own family faces the same hardships.
• The mother’s plea: She begs the narrator to care for his brother, unaware her words foreshadow Sonny’s struggle with addiction.

8. Allusion

• Biblical References: Allusions to the Bible add depth and resonance to themes of struggle, suffering, and redemption.
• Street slang and dialect: Incorporating the natural language of Harlem provides authenticity and a sense of place.
• Shifting tones: The text moves between despair, hope, frustration, and resignation, mirroring the complex relationship between the brothers.

11. First-Person Narration

• Limited perspective: The story is filtered through the narrator’s viewpoint, emphasizing his emotional journey.

12. Retrospective Narration

• Memories and Reflections: The narrator’s looking back on past events allows for self-exploration and understanding.

13. Juxtaposition

• Contrasting the brothers’ lives: Emphasizes differences in how they cope with life’s struggles.

14. Dialogue

• Reveals character and conflict The conversations between the brothers are raw and emotionally revealing.

15. Structure

• Musical composition: The way the story weaves in and out of memory and the present moment mimics the structure of a jazz song.

Characterization in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

The narrator.

• “I didn’t like what I saw. I gave the money to Sonny. There wasn’t any way I could have stopped him.”
• “My trouble made his real.”
• Transformation: Through Sonny’s music and their shared experiences of suffering, he begins to see beyond the labels of “addict” and “criminal.” The final scene suggests a newfound compassion and the possibility of a deeper relationship with his brother.
• “Tell me what it feels like, Sonny, when you’re out there.”
• “Sometimes, you’ve got to have that feeling… to keep from shaking to pieces.”
• “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. There isn’t any other tale to tell, it’s the only light we’ve got in all this darkness.”
• “You got to hold on to your brother…and don’t let him fall, no matter what it looks like is happening to him and no matter how evil you gets with him.”
• Voice of Shared Experience: Her stories reveal the harsh realities of life and foreshadow the generational struggles faced by both brothers.
• Innocence and Hope: Represents the possibility of a life outside the cycle of pain and addiction. The narrator’s desire to protect her mirrors his fear for Sonny.
• Catalyst for Change: Her presence, Sonny’s connection with her, and the narrator’s reflections on her vulnerabilities push him to confront his own fears and offer Sonny support.
• Embodiment of Danger: Symbolic of the destructive forces Sonny grapples with. Creole represents addiction’s power and the world the narrator desperately wants Sonny to avoid.

Significance of Characterization

Baldwin’s masterful characterization doesn’t present merely individuals but rather complex figures wrestling with:

• Generational Trauma: The lasting effects of racism and poverty.
• Internalized Pain: Individual ways of coping with suffering and hardship.
• The Power of Connection: The search for understanding, compassion, and shared experiences as a pathway towards healing.

Major Themes in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

• Suffering and Survival: Suffering permeates the lives of the characters in “Sonny’s Blues.” Both Sonny and the narrator bear emotional scars – the lingering pain of their father’s tragic death, the fear and hardship of living in Harlem, and the pervasive effects of racism. Baldwin presents different ways of coping with this suffering. Sonny turns to heroin to numb his pain, a path of self-destruction. The narrator tries to distance himself from the darkness, seeking stability in his profession and family. However, the death of his daughter Grace forces him to confront suffering head-on. References like “the darkness outside,” the “cup of trembling,” and the narrator’s internal struggle to understand Sonny’s pain showcase the constant presence and different manifestations of suffering in the story.
• The Power of Music (and Art): Music, specifically the blues, is Sonny’s salvation. It becomes a language for him to express the depth of his suffering and connect with others on an emotional level. Baldwin describes how jazz musicians channel collective pain, struggle, and a yearning for a better life into their art. In the story’s climactic scene, as Sonny plays at the nightclub, the music becomes a shared experience. The narrator, filled with both pain and pride, finally begins to understand his brother, and the audience witnesses Sonny’s transformation of despair into something beautiful. Music becomes a force for catharsis, survival, and a means to find light in the darkness.
• Family and Responsibility: The bond between the brothers is complex and fraught. The narrator initially distances himself from Sonny’s troubles, burdened by the weight of his mother’s plea to look after his brother. Yet, responsibility and a sense of familial obligation gradually chip away at his protective wall. The tragedy of his daughter’s death and a newfound understanding of Sonny’s inner world ignite a turning point. The story concludes with a hint of reconciliation, suggesting that genuine support and empathy within the family might be the start of a healing process.
• Imprisonment (Literal and Metaphorical): Imprisonment serves as both a literal reality for Sonny, who faces incarceration for drug offenses, and as a metaphor for broader societal constraints. The narrator frequently refers to Harlem as a trap, a harsh environment that limits opportunities and breeds despair. The brothers feel imprisoned by social forces, racial injustice, and their own personal demons. Sonny’s addiction becomes another form of imprisonment, a self-imposed but ultimately destructive means to escape the harsh realities of his life.
• Redemption and Hope: Despite the story’s focus on darkness and suffering, “Sonny’s Blues” doesn’t end in despair. The final scene at the nightclub offers a glimmer of hope. The music serves as an act of redemption for Sonny, a path to acknowledge his pain and transform it into something profound. Additionally, the narrator’s gradual understanding of his brother and willingness to connect despite past differences hint at the potential for reconciliation and healing. While the story doesn’t provide easy answers, it suggests that redemption is possible through shared understanding, the creative expression of pain, and a recognition of our common humanity.

Questions and Thesis Statements about “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

• What is the significance of music in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?
• Thesis statement: Music plays a crucial role in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, serving as a metaphor for the characters’ emotional states and a vehicle for self-expression, communication, and healing.
• How does the theme of identity manifest in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?
• Thesis statement: “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin explores the theme of identity through the characters of Sonny and his brother, who struggle to reconcile their past, present, and future selves, and through their interactions with the surrounding community and the larger social and historical contexts.
• What is the role of addiction in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?
• Thesis statement: The theme of addiction is a central concern in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, portraying the destructive power of substance abuse, the cycle of addiction, and the struggles of recovery and redemption.
• How does the setting of Harlem shape the narrative of “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?
• Thesis statement: The setting of Harlem in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin serves as a microcosm of the larger socio-cultural and political forces that shape the lives and experiences of the characters, highlighting issues of poverty, racism, violence, and cultural identity.
• What is the significance of family relationships in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?
• Thesis statement: “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin explores the complex dynamics of family relationships, particularly between siblings, revealing tensions, conflicts, and reconciliations that reflect broader themes of love, loss, and redemption.

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

• Psychoanalytic theory : You could explore how the characters’ unconscious desires, conflicts, traumas, and defenses shape their actions and relationships. For example, you could examine how Sonny’s addiction is a result of his repressed childhood memories of his father’s brother’s death, or how the narrator’s denial of Sonny’s musical talent is a projection of his own insecurity and guilt.
• Marxist theory : You could analyze how the story reflects the social and economic conditions of African Americans in 1950s Harlem, and how these conditions influence the characters’ choices and opportunities. For example, you could discuss how Sonny’s blues music is a form of resistance and expression against the oppression and exploitation of racism and capitalism, or how the narrator’s teaching career is a compromise between his ideals and his material needs.
• Feminist theory : You could examine how the story portrays gender roles and relations among the characters, and how these roles and relations affect their identities and agency. For example, you could explore how the female characters in the story (such as Isabel, Grace, or Sonny’s mother) are marginalized or silenced by the male-dominated society, or how Sonny’s relationship with his brother is influenced by their different expectations of masculinity.
• Postcolonial theory : You could investigate how the story deals with issues of cultural identity, hybridity, diaspora, and resistance among African Americans in a predominantly white society. For example, you could analyze how Sonny’s blues music incorporates elements from both African American and European traditions, creating a new form of cultural expression that challenges stereotypes and norms.

Short Question-Answers About “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

• What is the relationship between Sonny and his brother in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?

In “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, Sonny and his brother have a strained relationship due to their different lifestyles and values. Sonny is a jazz musician who struggles with addiction, while his brother is a schoolteacher who tries to distance himself from the gritty reality of Harlem. However, their shared history and the tragic events that befall their family bring them closer together, as they attempt to understand each other’s perspectives and find a way to connect through music.

• How does music serve as a source of healing in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?

In “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, music serves as a powerful tool for healing and self-expression. Sonny, the protagonist, uses jazz as a means of coping with his trauma and expressing his emotions. Through his music, he communicates his pain, his hopes, and his dreams to his brother and the world, creating a sense of connection and community. The transformative power of music is also evident in the final scene, where the audience at the nightclub is united in their appreciation of Sonny’s performance, transcending their differences and experiencing a moment of collective joy and catharsis.

• What is the role of religion in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?

Religion plays a significant role in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, reflecting the characters’ search for meaning and redemption in a world marked by suffering and injustice. The narrator, Sonny’s brother, is a devout Christian who struggles to reconcile his faith with the realities of his life in Harlem. Sonny, on the other hand, turns to drugs and music as a form of escape from the constraints of religion and society. However, in the end, both characters find a sense of spiritual renewal through their shared experiences and the power of music, suggesting that religion and art can coexist and complement each other.

• How does the theme of race intersect with other themes in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?

The theme of race intersects with other themes in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, highlighting the complex ways in which identity, culture, and history intersect in the lives of the characters. For instance, the racial tensions and injustices of Harlem inform the characters’ experiences of poverty, violence, and discrimination. The theme of addiction also intersects with race, as Sonny’s struggle with drugs is linked to the trauma of growing up in a racially oppressive environment. Similarly, the theme of music reflects the African-American cultural heritage and its significance as a form of resistance and self-expression in the face of oppression.

Literary Works Similar to “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

Works featuring similar themes and concerns:.

• Go Tell It On the Mountain (James Baldwin): A novel exploring themes of faith, family, and the complexities of growing up Black in Harlem. Baldwin’s insightful exploration of these themes echoes those found in “Sonny’s Blues.”
• Invisible Man (Ralph Ellison): This seminal work examines race and identity, portraying a Black man’s struggle against the forces of social invisibility. Its themes of isolation and the search for individuality resonate strongly with “Sonny’s Blues.”
• Giovanni’s Room (James Baldwin): A complex exploration of love, sexuality, and self-acceptance set against societal expectations. Like “Sonny’s Blues,” it focuses on an individual grappling with identity in a world that seeks to define him.
• Native Son (Richard Wright): A powerful and controversial novel about a young Black man whose life is shaped by poverty, racism, and systemic oppression. Explores the desperation born from marginalization, a theme mirrored in “Sonny’s Blues.”
• The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison): A story about the destructive forces of internalized racism as a young Black girl longs for the unattainable standards of white beauty. Shares similar concerns regarding identity, social pressure, and the harsh realities faced by marginalized communities.

Reason for Similarity: These works share with “Sonny’s Blues” a focus on:

• The African American Experience: The novels delves into the complexities of race, identity, and social injustice.
• The Search for Connection: Characters grapple with isolation and yearn for genuine understanding within families and society at large.
• The Power of Art: Often explores the role of music, literature, or other creative outlets in processing pain and finding a voice for self-expression.

Suggested Readings: “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

• Nadel, Alan. Invisible Criticism: Ralph Ellison and the American Canon. University of Iowa Press, 1988. (Includes insightful analysis on “Sonny’s Blues” and its relationship to Ellison’s work).
• O’Neale, Sondra. “Reconstruction of the Composite Self: New Images of Black Women in Fiction by Baldwin, Walker, and Morrison.” Stony the Road: Essays on the African American Literary Tradition , edited by T. Gates, Jr.. Cambridge University Press, 1989. (Provides a strong feminist reading of “Sonny’s Blues”).

Articles in Scholarly Journals

• Eckman, Barbara. “Sonny’s Blues: James Baldwin’s Image of Black Community.” Negro American Literature Forum, vol. 4, no. 2, 1970, pp. 56–60. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3041470.
• Matlack, Cynthia. “Music Lessons: The Narrator of ‘Sonny’s Blues’.” James Baldwin Review, vol. 1, 2015, pp. 72-85. [invalid URL removed].

Articles/Websites

• Als, Hilton. “The Creative Impulse” The New Yorker , 25 June, 2009. https://studentjournals.anu.edu.au/index.php/burgmann/article/download/99/97 (Offers a contemporary perspective and analysis).
• “Sonny’s Blues | Encyclopedia.com.” https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sonnys-blues-james-baldwin-1965 (Provides a helpful overview, plot summary, and critical commentary).

Related posts:

• “The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams
• “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce: Analysis
• “Civil Peace” by Chinua Achebe: Analysis
• “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor: Analysis

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Sonny's Blues — Critical Analysis of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues

Critical Analysis of James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues

• Categories: Sonny's Blues

About this sample

Words: 933 |

Published: Dec 3, 2020

Words: 933 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Works Cited:

• Braun, S. (2017). Rescuing Indigenous land ownership: Revising Locke’s account of original appropriation through cultivation. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 30(1), 93-107.
• Locke, J. (2019). Second treatise of government. Independently Published.
• Locke, J. (2017). Two treatises of government. Cambridge University Press.
• Macpherson, C. B. (2018). The political theory of possessive individualism: Hobbes to Locke (Vol. 303). Oxford University Press.
• Nelson, S. A. (2019). John Locke on property rights: A study in feminist political theory. Cambridge University Press.
• Riley, J. (2017). Re-Reading the Colonial Archive with Indigenous Women. Canadian Journal of History, 52(3), 451-474.
• Satz, D. (2020). John Locke and the commodification of body parts. Cambridge University Press.
• Stilz, A. (2019). Liberal Loyalty: Freedom, Obligation, and the State. Princeton University Press.
• Tully, J. (2018). An approach to political philosophy: Locke in contexts. Cambridge University Press.
• Waldron, J. (2016). The Right to Private Property. Oxford University Press.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 1022 words

3.5 pages / 1498 words

1.5 pages / 780 words

1.5 pages / 674 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Sonny's Blues

In James Baldwin’s short story, "Sonny’s Blues," one of the significant characters is Sonny. Sonny is a musician and the narrator’s brother, who is addicted to heroin and serves jail time for it. This character analysis will [...]

In the story “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin the narrator explains the hardships that mainly his brother had to face, but also the rest of his family faced when he was a child. He displays this by telling a [...]

In practical subjects, like math, it is often frowned upon to find your own way of doing something. Students are expected to pay attention to their lessons and use the exact same methods that are presented to figure out problems [...]

There is a worn-out old saying about how when a door closes, there will always be a window to crawl through instead. But what if the window has bars on it? Or what if it is too high for someone to reach without anyone to give [...]

In "Sonny's Blues," Baldwin explores the impact of drugs on the users and their families. The abuse of heroin results in the destruction of artistic talent, lives, and relationships with the family members. Sonny uses drugs as a [...]

Much of Charles Dickens' representation of morality in his most famous of Christmas stories, A Christmas Carol, is derived from "the wisdom of our ancestors." (1) From the beginning of his narrative Dickens explains his usage of [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Undergraduate
• High School
• Architecture
• American History
• Asian History
• Antique Literature
• American Literature
• Asian Literature
• Classic English Literature
• World Literature
• Creative Writing
• Linguistics
• Criminal Justice
• Legal Issues
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Political Science
• World Affairs
• African-American Studies
• East European Studies
• Latin-American Studies
• Native-American Studies
• West European Studies
• Family and Consumer Science
• Social Issues
• Women and Gender Studies
• Social Work
• Natural Sciences
• Pharmacology
• Earth science
• Agriculture
• Agricultural Studies
• Computer Science
• IT Management
• Mathematics
• Investments
• Engineering and Technology
• Engineering
• Aeronautics
• Medicine and Health
• Alternative Medicine
• Communications and Media
• Advertising
• Communication Strategies
• Public Relations
• Educational Theories
• Teacher's Career
• Chicago/Turabian
• Company Analysis
• Education Theories
• Shakespeare
• Canadian Studies
• Food Safety
• Relation of Global Warming and Extreme Weather Condition
• Movie Review
• Admission Essay
• Annotated Bibliography
• Application Essay
• Article Critique
• Article Review
• Article Writing
• Book Review
• Business Plan
• Business Proposal
• Capstone Project
• Cover Letter
• Creative Essay
• Dissertation
• Dissertation - Abstract
• Dissertation - Conclusion
• Dissertation - Discussion
• Dissertation - Hypothesis
• Dissertation - Introduction
• Dissertation - Literature
• Dissertation - Methodology
• Dissertation - Results
• GCSE Coursework
• Grant Proposal
• Marketing Plan
• Multiple Choice Quiz
• Personal Statement
• Power Point Presentation
• Power Point Presentation With Speaker Notes
• Questionnaire
• Reaction Paper
• Research Paper
• Research Proposal
• SWOT analysis
• Thesis Paper
• Online Quiz
• Literature Review
• Movie Analysis
• Statistics problem
• Math Problem
• All papers examples
• How It Works
• Money Back Policy
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• We Are Hiring

James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues, Essay Example

Pages: 4

Words: 1074

Hire a Writer for Custom Essay

Use 10% Off Discount: "custom10" in 1 Click 👇

You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work.

Introduction

James Baldwin uses Sonny’s Blues to convey the suffering that many blacks were experiencing during the 1950s. Blacks in Harlem faced discrimination, drug addictions, imprisonment, unemployment, and discrimination. The story centers around the lives of two brothers who choose to deal with the hardships they are facing in different ways. Sonny lives a wild and carefree life and uses heroin as a way to escape what life in Harlem. While his brother, searches for success and a better future. He uses his teaching career to as a vehicle to a better life. When the story opens, the narrator is reading about his brother’s, Sonny, arrest for possession and sale of heroin. Baldwin use images of darkness, the setting of 1950s Harlem, and racism to convey the struggle of blacks in oppressed by life.

The Darkness

The darkness represents the dire situation that blacks in Harlem are surrounded with When Sonny and his brother are riding back to Harlem in a cab, the narrator notes that the streets are “darken with dark” people. They discuss how not much has changed in the neighborhood since they were kids. For example, “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” Likewise, when Sonny invites his brother to the club to hear him play, the lights are very dim inside the club and the club is on a dark street. As the musicians are being observed, it is almost as if they are afraid of the light. The narrator notes how they seem to avoid stepping into the circle of light in the center of the stage.  According to Murray, “Images of light and darkness are used by Baldwin to illustrate his theme of man’s painful quest for an identity. Light can represent the harsh glare of reality, the bitter conditions of ghetto existence which harden and brutalize the young” (Murray, 1977). There are several instances when the character retreats from the light back into the darkness. This action represents fear of change due to consistent turmoil and discrimination. Sonny’s brother refers to how his students are consumed with darkness. He believes that the students use movies to escape the darkness they are living in with what they see on the screen, but it only creates another type of darkness. Murray adds, “Another kind of light is that of the movie theater, the light which casts celluloid illusions on the screen. It is this light, shrouded in darkness, which allows the ghetto dwellers’ temporary relief from their condition” (Murray, 1977).

The Setting

To some, Harlem represented freedom that they had never experienced, while to others it was a constant reminder of oppression and frustration. Many scholars believe that Baldwin uses Harlem to represent how many blacks felt while living in Harlem during the 1950s. They were so tired of being repressed and oppressed; they were willing to do anything to escape their surroundings. For example, Sonny used heroin as a way to escape the frustration he was feeling. The setting of Harlem plays a very important role in the theme of the story. The people there are living in poverty and prostitution is a way of life. Baldwin makes the streets of Harlem take on a life of its on through his images. The streets of Harlem evoke sad feelings and memories. For example McParland quotes Balwin:

“…the wages of sin were visible everywhere, in every wine-stained and urine-splashed hallway, in every clanging ambulance bell, in every scar on the faces of the pimps and their whores, in every helpless, newborn baby being brought into this danger, in every knife and pistol fight on the Avenue, and in every disastrous bulletin: a cousin, mother of six, suddenly gone mad, the children parceled out here and there; an indestructible aunt rewarded for years of hard labor by a slow, agonizing death in a terrible small room; someone’s bright son blown into eternity by his own hand; another turned robber and carried off to jail. It was a summer of dreadful speculations and discoveries, of which these were not the worst. Crime became real, for example–for the first time–not as a possibility but as the possibility” (McParland, 2006)

For, Baldwin, this story has some autobiographical content as well.

Racism and Segregation

Racism and segregation are a major theme throughout the story. Although it is never directly stated, it is quite obvious that racism is the root of the suffering and darkness that Baldwin refers to repeatedly in the story. Baldwin discusses the living conditions endured by blacks in housing projects and how those projects are used to separate blacks from the rest of society. Baldwin conveys how the darkness is a curse that is passed on from one generation to the next within the black community. Sadly, many other members of society viewed blacks in this way and held stereotypes of them. For example, “When it comes to race, “Sonny’s Blues” offers more variation than “The White Negro,” but not much. Mailer’s essay imagines only one kind of black man, and Baldwin’s story depicts two: a bourgeois schoolteacher and a junkie bebopper. Bebop’s central figures were black, and many of them were junkies, but race and drugs were peripheral to their legacy” (Yaffe, 2004). This is even obvious with Sonny’s brother, who has been unable to see Sonny as an actual person because of his drug addiction. This belief is deep rooted in him due to the story he has been told by his mother of a musician uncle who had been killed before his was born.

Baldwin use images of darkness, the setting of 1950s Harlem, and racism to convey the struggle of blacks in oppressed by life. Sonny’s Blues is so intricately intertwined that at times the reader is unaware of how clear concepts of black struggle have been made. The character of Sonny could have been any black many in 1950s Harlem. This story has a universal meaning that crosses time constraints and speaks directly to members of minorities that have struggled for their place in American society.

McParland, R.P. (2006). To the Deep Water: James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues” Interdisciplinary Humanities, 23 (2), 131-140.

Murray, D.C (1977). James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues’: Complicated and Simple. Studies In Short Fiction, 14 (4), 353.

Yaffe, D. (2004). White Negroes and Native Sons: Jazz and Writing America. Chronicle of Higher Education, 50 (36), B7-B-10).

Stuck with your Essay?

Get in touch with one of our experts for instant help!

About Gryphon, Essay Example

Corporate and Enterprise Risk Management, Coursework Example

Time is precious

don’t waste it!

Plagiarism-free guarantee

Privacy guarantee

Secure checkout

Money back guarantee

Related Essay Samples & Examples

Voting as a civic responsibility, essay example.

Pages: 1

Words: 287

Utilitarianism and Its Applications, Essay Example

Words: 356

The Age-Related Changes of the Older Person, Essay Example

Pages: 2

Words: 448

The Problems ESOL Teachers Face, Essay Example

Pages: 8

Words: 2293

Should English Be the Primary Language? Essay Example

Words: 999

The Term “Social Construction of Reality”, Essay Example

Words: 371

Sonny's Blues

By james baldwin, sonny's blues themes.

Art plays an important role in " Sonny's Blues ", acting as a bridge between the estranged brothers. Sonny 's inability to speak and the narrator 's inability to listen prevent the brothers from truly communicating with or understanding one another throughout their lives. Music becomes a channel through which Sonny can make himself understood. Witnessing the music of the street revival brings the brothers closer, prompting their first honest conversation in the work. More remarkably, at the climax, Sonny's music helps the narrator finally understand his life and trials. The connection art facilitates becomes the catalyst for a genuine epiphany in the narrator. As one critic explains, "By understanding Sonny's pain and accepting his humanity, his brother understands and accepts himself" (Nelson 28). Art then functions as a means not only for communication, but ultimately for redemption. Baldwin's commentary about the importance of stories suggests that writing, like music and other forms of art, serves this purpose.

Suffering is a constant presence in "Sonny's Blues." From the death of the narrator's daughter to Sonny's drug addiction to the cold-blooded murder of the narrator's uncle, suffering dominates the community. Suffering is, as Sonny passionately argues, inescapable. This suffering is symbolized throughout the work by darkness, which encroaches upon the lives of the narrator's family and community, something to be borne and endured. Sonny explains that his heroin usage is an attempt to cope with suffering that would otherwise paralyze him.

Yet suffering, for all the pain it causes, is essential to both art and redemption. Sonny comments on "how much suffering [the revival singer] must have had to go through" in order to sing so beautifully (132). One can imagine that Sonny's music comes from similarly dark experiences. Suffering and darkness, if used creatively, can produce works of unparalleled beauty. Suffering also confers the ability to understand and feel true compassion for others, which is essential for redemption. Indeed, it isn't until the painful death of his daughter that the narrator begins to walk down a path that leads to his salvation.

Racism and Segregation

Racism is the dark undercurrent that flows through "Sonny's Blues". It is rarely referenced directly but its pull can be felt continuously. For example, Baldwin mentions decrepit housing projects that rise out of Harlem like "rocks in the middle of the boiling sea" (112). The result of local and federal segregationist housing policies, the projects represent the impact of racism on a down-trodden community. Likewise, much of the narrator's anxiety on behalf of his students can be attributed to the fact that they, like Sonny, are young African American men living in a system that ruthlessly and endlessly discriminates against them.

Much of the darkness and suffering in the story referred to can be attributed to the effects of racism; the narrator speaks of suffering as something inherited from one generation to the next in the African American community. The constant and vague influence of racism finally becomes explicit and clear when the narrator's mother explains how drunken white men murdered her brother-in-law. She warns the narrator that a similar fate could befall Sonny, demonstrating her concern that racism is still a very real threat to the family.

Harlem, the setting of "Sonny's Blues," is packed with barely-contained anger. The community is forced to live in an oppressive and painful world; as a result, many are left deeply angry. The narrator describes the neighborhood as a "boiling sea" (112) and comments that his students are "filled with rage" (104). He then speaks of the "hidden menace" that permeates Lenox Avenue (112). Even the narrator's family has been impacted: the narrator's mother describes how the death of the narrator's uncle led his father to harbor a smoldering rage against white men. The anger and resentment of the community have built up to dangerous levels. Sonny senses the explosive potential of Harlem, when, looking down from the window, he wonders aloud how the anger and hatred "don't blow the avenue apart" (135). Through these examples, Baldwin attempts to communicate the anger and desperation that plague Harlem and the wider African American community.

"Sonny's Blues" is a story about pain, suffering, alienation, and anger; however, it is also a story about redemption. At the beginning of the work, the narrator is lost, disconnected from his family and isolated from his community. A painful act of grace--the death of his aptly-named daughter, Grace --allows him to begin to understand the depth of his brother's suffering. In that moment of pain, he contacts his brother, starting the long path to redemption. The brothers begin communicating and eventually Sonny is released from prison and stays with the narrator. When he finally listens to his brother play, the narrator understands and accepts the meaning of his brother's life. In accepting his brother, the narrator accepts himself and his heritage. The climax is a moment of discovery and redemption, in which the narrator is pulled back to his heritage and community, back to his brother and back to himself. He who was lost is now found.

Imprisonment

Imprisonment is a recurring and persistent theme in "Sonny's Blues." Sonny is physically imprisoned when he is jailed for the sale of heroin. Being in prison is a devastating experience for Sonny, who longs for freedom. Yet much of the imprisonment in the story is abstract. The narrator refers to Harlem several times as a trap which individuals must struggle to escape. He comments that even those who successfully leave the neighborhood "always left something of themselves behind, as some animals amputate a leg and leave it in the trap" (112). A pit of poverty, crime, depression, and anger, Harlem traps the individuals who call it a home. When Sonny pleads with his brother to leave Harlem for the military, the narrator notes that he looked "trapped, and in anguish" (123). Sonny's desperation to escape prison is reflected in his desperation to escape Harlem. Even the narrator fails to truly escape his neighborhood; despite his middle-class position he must still live in a decrepit tenement in Harlem.

Despite the story's title, evidence in "Sonny's Blues" strongly suggests that it is jazz, more specifically bebop, that Sonny plays. For Baldwin, the blues are not a specific genre of music, but rather something more universal. The narrator explains that the blues are "the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph" (139). Given this definition, the story "Sonny's Blues" is itself a blues piece:  it begins with the suffering of two brothers, follows their growing sense of communion, and ends with the triumph of brotherly love over alienation and pain. The narrator admits that this formula isn't innovative, but claims that "it's the only light we've got in all this darkness" (139). The story "Sonny's Blues" is an attempt, much like Sonny's actual music, to commune with its audience and, through that bridge of understanding and compassion, to relieve suffering. Baldwin is not playing, but writing the blues. The title "Sonny's Blues" refers not to the specific genre of music Sonny plays but to Sonny's story of suffering and triumph, of loss and redemption through music.

Sonny’s Blues Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Sonny’s Blues is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

1. How does the narrator describe the streets and the projects?

From the text:

So we drove along, between the green of the park and the stony, lifeless elegance of hotels and apartment buildings, toward the vivid, killing streets of our childhood. These streets hadn't changed , though housing projects jutted up...

How much money does the narrator give Sonny's friend?

The narrator give Sonny's friend six dollars.

Sonny’s blues

"Sonny's Blues" is told in the first person from the point of view of an unnamed narrator who, we find out, is Sonny's brother. "Sonny's Blues" takes place in Harlem during the early 1950s.

Study Guide for Sonny’s Blues

Sonny's Blues study guide contains a biography of James Baldwin, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Sonny's Blues
• Sonny's Blues Summary
• Character List

Essays for Sonny’s Blues

Sonny's Blues essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin.

• Music Effecting Change
• Black Masculinity As Constructed Through Baldwin
• Redemption in "Sonny's Blues"
• Darkness and Light in "Sonny's Blues"
• Baldwin's Fiction: Liminal Agency and the Condition of Blackness

Lesson Plan for Sonny’s Blues

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Sonny's Blues
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Sonny's Blues Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Sonny’s Blues

• Introduction

• Ask LitCharts AI
• Discussion Question Generator
• Essay Prompt Generator
• Quiz Question Generator

• Literature Guides
• Poetry Guides
• Shakespeare Translations
• Literary Terms

Sonny’s Blues

James baldwin.

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Cycles of Suffering

The central concern of “Sonny’s Blues” is suffering: Baldwin emphasizes that suffering is universal, and that it is also cyclical—that suffering tends to lead to more suffering. Baldwin demonstrates the effects of suffering on several different scales: he shows the way suffering affects an individual life, the way it affects a family throughout generations, and the way it affects a society overall.

The story—set in 1950s Harlem, a New York neighborhood that was then at…

Family Bonds

In “Sonny’s Blues,” Baldwin asks how much family members owe to one another, and he examines the fallout when familial compassion fails and obligations are only halfheartedly met. The most explicit example of this is the narrator ’s failure for most of the story to live up to his promise to his mother that he would always be there for Sonny . Another example of a halfheartedly met family obligation is when the narrator’s wife’s…

Passion, Restraint, and Control

The narrator and Sonny , as black men in America, live in a world that tries to control them. They also live in a world that seems completely overwhelming because it is so saturated with suffering. Baldwin sets up the two brothers as being emblematic of two diverging responses to this pervasive suffering. One chooses a life of passion, idolizing artistic expression and casting aside a traditional life in order to find meaning, and the…

Salvation and Relief

Each of the characters in “Sonny’s Blues” is living a life that is, in some way, governed by suffering, but it is the significant instances of salvation and relief that prevent “Sonny’s Blues” from being utterly hopeless and tragic. Salvation and relief come in many forms in the story, some better than others, but it is the final invocation of the “ cup of trembling ” (a quote from the Biblical Book of Isaiah) that…

• Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

Silent Suffering and Racism in Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” Research Paper

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Drug addiction, dehumanizing harlem neighborhood, natural suffering by humans, limited economic opportunities.

Racism refers to the belief that certain tribes or descents are superior to others. It can also be applied as a tool to express the idea of ethnic supremacy against another. In the twentieth century, racism became a widespread problem for many individuals, especially persons of African ancestry in societies such as America and Europe. In his broadly anthologized art named “Sonny’s Blues”, James Baldwin discusses a story of two siblings who after an elongated conceptual difference come to understand one another of the foregoing in society. Two brothers; a musician who later turned a drug addict and the other, a qualified teacher dominates the story. The siblings and some of their family members encounter racial bigotry due to their status being Black Americans.

The art begins with the narrator grasping the arrest of his drug-addicted brother while heading to his station of work. Baldwin reflects on the level of institutional bigotry in society by illustrating numerous instances in the work. Institutional intolerance displays how individuals encounter the ill impacts of discrimination because it is highly embedded in societal structures and authorities such as police officers, justice frameworks, and many other institutions. Baldwin employs various instances that encompass transgenerational upbringing in the dehumanizing Harlem neighborhood, street temptations through drug addiction, limited economic chances, and the normal attribute of human beings to undergo suffering to show racism.

Suffering remains a conspicuous element in Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blue” in many instances. Right from the demise of the author’s daughter to the appalling drug addiction by Sonny coupled with the dreadful murder of the narrator’s cherished uncle, the theme of suffering controls the community in numerous ways. As Sonny fervently posits, suffering in the community is hardly unavoidable. Baldwin’s art depicts suffering in the narration through the darkness that invades the lives of the speaker’s community and even the family (Baldwin 126). Sonny recounts that his drug addiction in an attempt to withstand the long-standing suffering would almost make him paralyzed.

While Sonny is suffering for all the pain heroin inflicts on him, it is critical to both redemption and art. Sonny remarks on the extent of pain the revival singer could have undergone to entertain too gorgeously. The audience can relate that Sonny’s song comes from equally dark encounters. Darkness and suffering, when used artistically, can generate works of unmatched beauty. The aspects of suffering also confer the capacity to comprehend and feel genuine compassion for other individuals, which remains key for ultimate redemption. However, it is not until the throbbing demise of his daughter that the speaker starts to discuss a path that results in salvation.

From this perspective, it is apparent that the theme of suffering, especially those faced by persons of African origin in America becomes worrying. Even though Baldwin’s major idea on the racism aspect in the art will be deeply discussed, the death of the speaker’s uncle also highlights the epic of the problem. It becomes more vivid that the repercussions of the nature of treatment accorded to black Americans are pervasive. Sonny’s father also feels tormented by the perpetual reminiscence of the brother’s demise as well as the suffering arising from hatred by white persons. The bigotry, Baldwin mentions, covers his soul and makes him believe that he does not belong to this particular society (Baldwin 132). Moreover, Sonny’s mother also experiences this ubiquitous suffering in Harlem.

Racism is infrequently cited but its force can be felt far and wide throughout the art as shown by the dilapidated living conditions in the Harlem neighborhood. For instance, Baldwin says dilapidated housing initiatives that stem from Harlem are like rocks at the center of a boiling ocean (Baldwin 132). The outcome of federal and local segregationist building policies depicts the influence of racism in society. The houses are made to look like decrepit structures in the middle of an isolated environment that should only fit persons of black origin. The comparison further illustrates the deep-rooted nature of racism that lies in downtrodden society. In the same scenario, the narrator’s anxiety towards his learners can be attached to Sonny’s situation where young black Americans reside in a society that ruthlessly undervalues their role and contribution to nation-building. Precisely, they are viewed as the enemy of the development owing to the nature of heroin addiction that Sonny struggled to shake coupled with boundless instances of discernment.

Most of the suffering and darkness in the narration are attributed to the impacts of numerous cases of racism. The bigotry appears to be somehow inherited from one generation to another. The vague and consistent impact of racism ultimately becomes clear and explicit when the speaker’s mother opens up about how some white men killed her relative. She also took the opportunity to warn the reporter of the same fate that could befall him. The clear accounts of racism encountered by persons of African origin make them feel insecure and outcast in the society they have always called home (Baldwin 140). The entrenchment of the same at various levels of society even makes the situation deteriorates with nowhere to seek a reprieve.

Sonny’s Blues proceeds to inquire about these societal injustices as ways to find a long-lasting solution to this menace that denies them the right to live peacefully in a society without interference. Baldwin vividly organizes the story to raise the issues in society, especially during the period of intense racism in America. It is slightly captured in a precise but clever manner that draws the attention of the world. For instance, the deplorable living conditions in Harlem courtesy of the government housing strategy show the impact of segregation in such a society. In another scenario, the critical part of the narrator’s anxiety is the nature of the response to address the open cases of racism. The little to lack of willingness to address this matter points to the unprepared nature of society to accommodate diversity.

Perhaps, Baldwin could have been inspired by the famous apex court judgment that streamlined racism cases. For instance, the Brown versus Board of Education case of 1957 recognized the kind of challenges that Black Americans face in society (The United States Courts Para 12). Segregation was at its highest and even institutions of learning could not be spared from the such retrogressive act. The bill was the turning point toward the abolishment of racism. Society around that time began to have a different dimension of ethnicity and prejudice and its impact on individuals and society at large. The act allowed those institutions and persons who had even begun defying the Supreme Court pronouncement on the raging matter to adhere to the demanding laws.

The author also can be seen as a beneficiary of the act since he found freedom and could assemble and discuss matters of interest without fear of reprisal. For instance, in 1963, the writer organized a team of black leaders to meet General Kennedy to deliberate on race matters. Kennedy had also been brought up in Harlem, a place he would label as a concentration camp and a dreadful environment due to its desensitizing conditions. Because of racism, society often views persons with less income and poverty-stricken areas to be of little significance in national building and should not be allowed in any discussion.

Racism will have social consequences for an individual since it can generate suffering in their current lifestyle. As Baldwin illustrates, the kind of prejudice met by persons of African origin should never be allowed to take shape in part of the world. The draconian and retrogressive acts have surely no place in society. Human beings are known to have a period of lows and highs, and that should not be dictated by either an individual or society. The Harlem neighborhood is a source of prejudice and brutalizing to the residents (Baldwin 141). Racial profiling by the environment and not individual’s capability should not be allowed to prevail in any society that wants to progress.

Moreover, the situation also limited economic activities that black persons could perform in such an oppressive setting. The lack of concern and need to improve the living conditions as manifested by government housing schemes further points to a broken society that does not value inclusivity by all means. Baldwin documents that the resolve to venture into drug abuse and selling is a strategy to navigate the tough environment that would easily paralyze him if such an action is not taken. Using drugs is not acceptable and even harmful to life, Sonny has no choice but to delve into the matter while knowing the consequences. Institutional prejudice displays the way by which individuals encounter the ill impacts of discrimination because it is highly embedded in the social edifices and authorities such as the police officers, the justice outlines, and many other establishments.

In conclusion, the fact is that racism is a major influencing factor of suffering in Baldwin’s art titled Sonny’s Blues. For the author, being black only encompassed part of his identity and pointed diversity but should not form an element of prejudice when handling him. Sonny’s instances of suffering occur due to various aspects triggered by his race. The factors encompass upbringing in the dehumanizing environment called Harlem, street temptations, restrictions of economic chances, and the innate nature of human beings to often undergo suffering.

Moreover, the protracted history of suffering by Black Americans, largely informs the four Sonny’s blues. Precisely, the narrative is tailored particularly personally when the narrator listens to how his uncle perished by being run over by intoxicated white men. Sonny’s brother recaps to the readers the situations encountered by black persons in the town when discloses the levels of poverty and neglect in Harlem. Finally, Baldwin attains many elements through the art of Sonny’s Blues. The story not only acts as a memoir of the true situation of Black Americans in Harlem in the 1950s but also depicts the fights they regularly faced concerning moral and ethical values.

Baldwin, James. “Sonny’s Blues” The Oxford Book of American Short Stories edited by Joyce Carol Oates, Oxford University Press, 2013 pp. 122-149.

The United States Courts. “History – Brown v. Board of Education Re-enactment” The United States Courts , n.d., Web.

• Criticism of "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
• Ichabod Crane in Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
• “Sonny’s Blues”: Jazz or Blues as a Thematic Device
• Drug Use in "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin
• Racism in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
• Reading Journal on Gilman's "Herland"
• “To Build a Fire” by Jack London: Literary Analysis
• Interpreting O'Connor's "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"
• Symbols in The Birth-Mark by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Gothic in "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" by O'Connor
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, September 4). Silent Suffering and Racism in Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues". https://ivypanda.com/essays/silent-suffering-and-racism-in-baldwins-sonnys-blues/

"Silent Suffering and Racism in Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues"." IvyPanda , 4 Sept. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/silent-suffering-and-racism-in-baldwins-sonnys-blues/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Silent Suffering and Racism in Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues"'. 4 September.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Silent Suffering and Racism in Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues"." September 4, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/silent-suffering-and-racism-in-baldwins-sonnys-blues/.

1. IvyPanda . "Silent Suffering and Racism in Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues"." September 4, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/silent-suffering-and-racism-in-baldwins-sonnys-blues/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Silent Suffering and Racism in Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues"." September 4, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/silent-suffering-and-racism-in-baldwins-sonnys-blues/.

• Environment
• Information Science
• Social Issues
• Argumentative
• Cause and Effect
• Classification
• Compare and Contrast
• Descriptive
• Exemplification
• Informative
• Controversial
• Exploratory
• What Is an Essay
• Length of an Essay
• Generate Ideas
• Types of Essays
• Structuring an Essay
• Outline For Essay
• Essay Introduction
• Thesis Statement
• Body of an Essay
• Writing a Conclusion
• Essay Writing Tips
• Drafting an Essay
• Revision Process
• Fix a Broken Essay
• Format of an Essay
• Essay Examples
• Essay Checklist
• Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Research Paper
• Write My Research Paper
• Write My Essay
• Custom Essay Writing Service
• Admission Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Essay
• Academic Ghostwriting
• Write My Book Report
• Case Study Writing Service
• Dissertation Writing Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Lab Report Writing Service
• Do My Assignment
• Buy College Papers
• Capstone Project Writing Service
• Buy Research Paper
• Custom Essays for Sale

Can’t find a perfect paper?

• Free Essay Samples

Literary Analysis of "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin

Updated 25 June 2022

Subject Addiction ,  Books ,  Communication ,  Literary Genres

Downloads 54

Category Family ,  Literature ,  Music

Topic Big Brother ,  Drug Addiction ,  Family Relationships ,  Family Values ,  Jazz ,  Jazz Concert ,  Jazz Music ,  Literary Criticism ,  Literary Devices ,  Music Therapy ,  Piano ,  Short Story ,  Sonny'S Blues

The short story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin

The short story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin is a literary analysis of racism in the African American community. The work shows the gradual shedding of prejudice and its themes of music and religion. However, there are a few points that need to be explored to fully appreciate the story. In this article, we'll discuss a few of those themes to help you understand the short story's meaning and context.

James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" is a short story about the African-American community

In the 1950s, a short story called "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin arose to represent the polar opposites of the African-American community. Written before the Civil Rights Movement, the story shows the struggles of a white Algebra teacher and his black jazz pianist student, Sonny. While the story is written in flashback, the protagonist is a well-known figure in the black community, as his brother has a difficult time understanding the inner workings of his black community. This story also shows the importance of the nuances of setting in short fiction.

The story is set in New York City

The story is set in New York City, where Baldwin was born and raised. The city was at that time the center of black intellectual life in America. Baldwin began preaching at the Fireside Pentecostal Assembly in the Bronx in 1938. This early theological training can be heard throughout Baldwin's work, including the religious themes that pervade the story. By 1944, Baldwin had renounced his calling and had moved to Greenwich Village, where he became acquainted with a number of important writers and artists.

It shows the gradual shedding of prejudice

One of the most interesting elements of Sonny Blues is the way in which the narrator acknowledges the influence of music in keeping Sonny free. The narrator also notes that the blues has a way of reinforcing the scapegoat metaphor in the story. In addition, the narrator shows how a blues song can help anyone to stay true to themselves.

Throughout the novel, Sonny's struggles with the blues are caused by the circumstances of his race, the limitations of economic opportunity, and the natural human compulsion to suffer. It shows how this history of prejudice and oppression has affected the narrator and his family. His brother also describes the poverty and neglect in his Harlem neighborhood. In Sonny Blues, it's clear that racism, even in its most basic form, has had a profound impact on the lives of his family, his friends, and society in general.

It is about music

Sonny's music, like his words, is a powerful vehicle for his pain and suffering. In his letter to his brother from prison, Sonny tries to explain his pain, but his words are so inarticulate that they are almost inaudible. Music, he explains, is his way of communicating with his brother and he uses it as a therapeutic means to release his pain and guilt. In the novel, music becomes an almost mystical spiritual medium, as it helps Sonny release his pain and guilt.

Music is Sonny's life. The narrator senses that Sonny plays music to cope with his pain, and he tells the narrator that drugs and alcohol are bad for him, but they are a good way to escape his problems. Yet, in the end, music makes him a different person. Sonny's music is a metaphor for life, and it is a powerful metaphor for coping with pain and desperation.

It has religious themes

Sonny's Blues' theme of forgiveness is a strong religious one. The narrator, who is in the same situation as his brother, tries desperately to get out of Harlem to find the salvation he longs for. The biblical theme of forgiveness is also evident throughout the novel, as the narrator quotes Matthew 6:14, "Unless you repent of your sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive you." Similarly, the narrator takes the role of his brother's keeper and accepts his responsibilities. The story hits rock bottom but eventually softens his heart and his relationship with his brother.

Sonny's name evokes a Christ figure, and the New Testament message refers to a cup of trembling as the "cup of Gethsemane." The cup represents the atonement of sin for those who believe and offers hope for eternal life. As a Christian, Sonny's name echoes Christ's special relationship with Jesus. Moreover, he is a scapegoat and a hopeful king.

It is about suffering

Sonny's Blues is a novel that explores the concept of individual suffering. Each character goes through some type of personal struggle that wears them down. Sonny's suffering manifests itself in many different ways, including music, drugs, and the recurring nightmares of his character. The narrator, meanwhile, seems to live a better life than Sonny. His obsession with avoiding pain and suffering is detrimental to his health and wellbeing.

James Baldwin uses multiple symbols to communicate his themes. For example, his characters have different personalities, and his protagonist is black. The narrator is an African American, and he is a jazz musician, but he is also a heroin addict. The theme of suffering is also represented by the recurring image of darkness, the inability to communicate, and the spatial coordinates of inside and outside. This book is about suffering and how it affects the relationships in our lives.

Deadline is approaching?

Wait no more. Let us write you an essay from scratch

Related Essays

Related topics.

Find Out the Cost of Your Paper

Type your email

By clicking “Submit”, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy policy. Sometimes you will receive account related emails.