Sonny's Blues Group

Question:

brainsms
brainsms
Student
Community / Jr. College

In Sonny's Blues, by James Baldwin, why is it significant that the narrator teaches algebra, do his formulas help him understand addiction?

Rate question:

Posted by brainsms on Friday January 30, 2009 at 3:36 PM and tagged with sonny's blues, sonnys blues.

Answers:

  1. darren-thomas
    darren-thomas Student
    College - Sophomore

    Well, that's one I'm still pondering. Perhaps it has something to do with art (Sonnys passion) being opposed to science/math...

    Rate answer:

    Posted by darren-thomas on Tuesday February 17, 2009 at 8:44 AM

  2. brainism
    brainism Student

    Well.. the way i interpreted the significance of the narrator teaching algebra; this is to contrast the distinguishing characteristics of the two characters. Baldwin purposely chooses algebra as the narrator's subject because math is a subject that is very structured and rigid. This is to show that this characteristic of the narrator differs from that of Sonny because sonny ends up being a jazz musician, which signifies a break away, or an escape, from the conventional world that the narrator tries to assmilate into.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by brainism on Wednesday February 25, 2009 at 3:57 PM