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Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin is a classic short story about two brothers, but also about the blues music that is so important in their lives. This story is not about Africa, but it seems like it could be. The two brothers live in Harlem, and they face poverty, drug addiction, and the problems that most residents of our own inner cities face every day. This story is really about family, and how family members support each other through the worst times in life. The two brothers are very different, but they love each other, and that is the most important thing.
Reading this story made me think about my own family, and how families are so important in our lives. It made me think that we are very lucky to have loving, caring families that support us. A lot of people do not have any family, or their family is not supportive and loving, and these people suffer because of it. Knowing I have a supportive and caring family made me feel good as I read this story, but just like the other readings in this group, this story also made me sad, because it points out the problems that are not "somewhere else," they are right here in America, and it seems like we should be able to solve these kinds of problems, like poverty and hopelessness, that lead to drug addiction and so much death and destruction in our own cities and towns. It seems like so many lives are wasted, and it does not really have to be that way at all.
This story is really well written and compelling. The reader really feels like they know and understand these two characters by the end of the story, and it also made me think about all the elements that go into good fiction. Each of these stories is different, even though they do have commonalities in themes and ideas, but each story has a different style, and that shows me how unique we all are, and how we all have a different voice and a different way of looking at things. All these stories made me think, and they made me appreciate the differences in writing, and discover I appreciate them all.
References
The Bedford Anthology of World Literature: The Twentieth Century, 1900-the Present. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2003.
For most of the story the setting surrounded the narrator and his life. It was his house, his family, and his experiences that made up the majority of the story. However, after the narrator reconciles with Sonny and he is invited to be part of the narrator's life, the setting of the story changes to Sonny and that which surrounds his life; particularly his music. The narrator and Sonny
"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin shows how women's personal liberty may be subjugated to and circumscribed by the wills of their husband. Mrs. Mallard considers herself to be liberated from this influence when her husband has been mistakenly proclaimed dead; excited at the opportunity to be able to live her life for herself, instead of acquiescing to him, she dies upon discovering that he is still very
Furthermore, when his little brother starts playing the piano and gradually produces better music the narrator and all of the people in the club are captivated, making it obvious that Sonny believed that his passion could surpass heroin in putting his suffering behind. The devastating news that the narrator's uncle was murdered has a somewhat beneficial effect on the narrator, given that he takes on the role of caring for
African-American Duality of Identity: Literary Criticism of the short story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin James Baldwin's face, with its piercing eyes and craggy forehead, is a frequently depicted image upon anthologies and volumes of African-American literature and criticism, particularly post-colonial criticism that emphasizes the alienated sense of self and national identity frequently experienced by Blacks in America during the 1960's when Baldwin wrote some of his greatest works, including the short
James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" Moments of realization are one of the themes of the short story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin. The narrator of this story is able to learn about his brother as well as himself through his relationship with Sonny. Baldwin allows the narrator to gain an understanding of his brother as he reflects on the differences between them. This paper will examine how the narrator comes to recognize
With music, Sonny can express his pain without tripping up on words. Music becomes a flow of pure emotion, therefore leaving him satisfied with his mode of transmitting his emotions to an audience. Therefore, Sonny is allowed the chance at redemption for his past sins as an addict and criminal, (Tackach 113). He once was lost, but returns to his family to bring substance back into his brother's life.