Janina Santos-Nunez Eng. 2000 Prof.

Fox Summer 2011

Santos-Nunez 1

Sonnys Blues Analysis of Character

Santos-Nunez 2 In Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin the Narrator is telling the story about his bother Sonny who was a struggling musician with a drug problem. In the beginning of the story the narrator is very angry with Sonny because he felt that Sonny had made his choices. Sonnys brother felt the reason that Sonny was in the predicament he was in was because of his bad life decisions. One of which was choosing to be a Jazz Musician that was a career choice that Sonnys brother did not approve of. Instead he wanted Sonny to focus more on his education. Sonnys brother even made it possible for Sonny to live with his wife and her family when they mother died. The brother wanted to make sure that someone was going to look after Sonny while he was away in the Army. In a way the brother felt that he and Sonny were offered the same opportunities because they came from the same environment the bad streets of Harlem, which were filled with drugs and violence at the time. Somehow Sonny was not able to get out of it. However throughout the story you can see how the brother changes his mind about Sonny and his drug problems. The brother also changes his mind about the struggles that people endure throughout life in general. The brother goes from not wanting Sonny to be a struggling musician because how drugs use and music were tied together. Then having a bad falling out and them not speaking for a year. Then he finally reaches out to his younger brother in prison and when he gets out he let Sonny come stay with him and his family. Finally he sees Sonny perform his passion of music for the first time. This is the turning point where the brother once and for all

Santos-Nunez 3 understands the magic that came out of Sonny soul when he played the piano.

Santos-Nunez 4 "Sonny's Blues" opens as the narrator learns from a newspaper that his younger brother, Sonny, has been arrested in a drug bust. The narrator is a high-school math teacher. He and Sonny are seven years apart in age. When he was at work all he could think about is his younger brother Sonny. The laughter in his student also reminded him of his and Sonny younger years he states, Perhaps I was listening to them because I was thinking about my brother and in them I heard my brother. And myself(251). Leaving the school, the narrator comes across an old friend of Sonny's in the school yard. Who is also a drug addict. The two men walk together, talking about Sonny. The narrator simultaneously hates and pities Sonnys friend, who, despite his problems, makes it painfully clear to the narrator just how difficult Sonnys drug-addicted life has been and how difficult it will continue to be. The narrator is very angry with Sonny and time passes before his able to make contact with him. It wasnt until his daughter Grace died from Polio that the narrator finally decided to write to Sonny in prison. Sonny writes a long letter back to his brother in which he tries to explain how he ended up where he is. The two brothers then stay in constant communication. When Sonny gets out of jail, the narrator is there for him. He takes Sonny back to his own familys apartment. After having Sonny live with him for a few weeks, the narrator debates whether he should search Sonnys room. As he paces back and forth, he sees a street-corner revival occurring outside his window and thinks about its significance. Eventually Sonny comes home and invites his brother to watch him perform later that evening. The two

Santos-Nunez 5 brothers go to a small jazz club where everyone knows and respects Sonny. Sonny and the band get on stage and play, and as they play, the narrator watches Sonny struggle with the music. He watches all his brothers struggles come pouring out as he plays, and only then does he finally realize whom Sonny is and what hes made of. The narrator had a judgmental, stereotype, predetermined way of thinking when

it came to his past. The narrator's thoughts and feelings were cruel and hard for the drug addict childhood friend of Sonny's when he told him he did not want to hear his "sad story"(1). Yet, he realized they both have something in common. The narrator has Sonny's drug addiction and the friend has his own addiction to deal with. The narrator realized that everyone has a sad story. The narrator is fully conscious of his communitys dark side, Harlem at the time was full of drugs and violence. However he tries his best to keep those problems at arms length, refusing to let any tragedy affect him too much emotionally. When he talks about his daughters death he speaks more about the pain his wife endure and mentions nothing about his own pain. This shows that hes trying to suppress is emotions but at the same time his daughter death evoked something in him and made him reach out to Sonny.

Santos-Nunez 6 Unlike Sonny, the narrator has a difficult time expressing his ideas and emotions.

The narrator believes that he has been called upon to watch over Sonny, but this knowledge doesnt lessen the burden he feels. He is constantly torn by his emotions, which shift quickly from love to hate, concern to doubt. As much as he cares for Sonny, he seems to be unable to fully accept that his brother has the capacity for change.

At the end, the narrator and Sonny were able to come to a mutual understanding

of each other by the sound of Jazz music. When the narrator went on Sonny's territory, which was the Night Club where Sonny played the Piano. It was the way of his accepting Sonny with all his problems and pain. The acceptance came into full circle when he was listening to the music and watching Sonny play and express himself on the piano. In the beginning of the story he did not want Sonny to be a Musician but here you can clearly see how the older brother was now embraces his younger brother and his musical abilities. The narrator loves his brother and his love is unconditional. By listening to Sonny play the jazz music, the narrator was able to change his attitude about life, himself, and most of all, Sonny's choice.

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