Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin is about two brothers

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Sonny’s Blues

Introduction

Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin is about two brothers. It shows the narrator’s journey in understanding his brother, Sonny, especially after his arrest and successive release from prison due to drugs. At first the narrator seems indifferent about his brother, but his arrest brings to light issues that may have contributed to his feelings towards him. He thinks back to when his mother told him about how his father’s brother died and his father’s reaction to the accident. In this essay, we analyze the importance of the flashback to the development of character, plot and theme in the story.

Importance of the flashback

The flashback helps the narrator view his brother from a different perspective. The mother says, “I ain’t telling you all this to make you scared or bitter or to make you hate nobody. I’m telling you this because you got a brother. And the world ain’t changed” (Baldwin 12). His attitude changes when he realizes that his father’s loss of his own brother caused him a lot of pain. Although he did not immediately reach out to his brother, after his return, he tries to find out how his life is going. The mother helps the narrator understand that they have to look out for each other. This helps in developing his character in the story as he goes out of his way to help his brother and accept him after he is released from prison.

When the narrator reflects on his mother’s request, he realizes that have all originates from the same place and predisposed to the same things. In this case, his understanding of his brother comes when he accepts himself and the situation they had been brought up in (Bieganowski 6). When he listens to the music Sonny plays, the narrator begins to reflect about him, and what the music means to Sonny and its contribution to his behavior. The mother’s request mainly serves as an opening way for the narrator to realize his responsibility as an older brother. He tries to encourage him to finish school before pursuing music, but he is unable to and Sonny leaves. This helps us understand the path which Sonny follows and how he ends up taking drugs and finally getting arrested.

During his flashback on his mother’s request, the narrator remembers how the old folks and his mother tried to shield them from the ‘darkness outside’ when they were little. This represents the troubles and suffering the children will have to go through once they are older and the need for inner peace and support. When the narrator suffers the death of his child, he realizes that he needs Sonny and reaches out to him (Bieganowski 3). This sets the rest of the story as the narrator tries to get out of suffering and conditions of his neighborhood and find peace and a better life. Once the narrator contacts Sonny, he is able to open himself up to viewing things from Sonny’s point of view. He is able to look at the situation that could have led to Sonny’s behavior and how he finally turns out.

Conclusion

The flashback of the mother’s request helps open the narrator to helping his brother and finally understanding him. It enables him stop being indifferent to Sonny and offer his help when he needs it especially following his arrest. It also enables him understand that despite Sonny’s shortcomings, he has a responsibility to help him. This helps in the development of the characters in the story especially Sonny and the narrator. In addition, it shows the journey that led to Sonny’s arrest and the narrator’s change of attitude when he helps him.

Works Cited

“Sonny’s Blues, James Baldwin – Ronald Bieganowski (essay date 1988).” Short Story Criticism. Ed. Anna Sheets Nesbitt. Vol. 33. Gale Cengage, 1999.

Baldwin, James. “Sonny’s Blues”. Berlin: Insel-Verlag, 1974. Print.