Characters: Sonny
The age difference between Sonny and his older brother is crucial because the narrator initially has difficulty understanding the aspirations and weaknesses of his sibling. (And the parable of the prodigal son and the biblical refrain of "my brother's keeper" should resonate for many readers of this text.) The narrator is a high school algebra teacher, a home owner, and a family man, whereas Sonny drifts from place to place—at one time living with his brother, at another time staying with a white woman in Greenwich Village. Despite the significant differences between the two men, however, they are quite similar in the desire to escape their shared past. This is made evident in the narrator's thoughts upon those who live like animals in the housing tenements of Harlem. As he looks out his cab window while escorting Sonny back from prison, he muses:
Some escaped the trap, most didn't. Those who got out always left something of themselves behind, as some animals amputate a leg and leave it in the trap. It might be said, perhaps, that I had escaped, after all, I was a school teacher; or that Sonny had, he hadn't lived in Harlem for years. Yet, as the cab moved uptown through streets which seemed, with a rush, to darken with dark people, and as I covertly studied Sonny's face/it came to me that what we both were seeking through our separate cab windows was that part of ourselves which had been left behind. It's always at the hour of trouble and confrontation that the missing member aches.
The space of Harlem then is contrasted with the space of the nightclub: one is claustrophobic and threatening, the other open and inviting. It is in the club where the narrator realizes, "Here I was in Sonny's world. Or, rather, his kingdom. It was not ever a question that his veins bore royal blood."
Expert Q&A
What causes the reconciliation of the two brothers in "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin?
Why does Sonny leave Isabel's family home when the narrator joins the military in "Sonny's Blues"?
Sonny leaves Isabel's family home because he feels like a burden to them. While he is not unpleasant, there is a disconnect between him and the family, as he is absorbed in his music. When Isabel's mother confronts Sonny about skipping school, he realizes that his passion for music is seen as a burden. This realization, coupled with the understanding that they tolerated him for his brother's sake, prompts Sonny to leave.
Is Sonny a sympathetic character in "Sonny's Blues"? Why or why not?
Sonny is a sympathetic character due to his struggles with pain and isolation. His negative traits, such as drug use, stem from losing his parents and feeling isolated, which he copes with through music. These experiences reveal Sonny's complexity, showing he's not inherently bad but a person shaped by hardship. His brother's affectionate memories of Sonny as a boy further enhance the reader's sympathy, despite Sonny's troubled actions.
In "Sonny's Blues," why might Sonny find traveling to India appealing?
In "Sonny's Blues," traveling to India might be appealing to Sonny as a way to escape the racism and poverty of Harlem and as a way to find wisdom.
What are the epiphanies in the living room and nightclub in "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin?
What does Sonny's letter in "Sonny's Blues" reveal about his mental state and perspective?
Sonny's letter in "Sunny's Blues" shows that he is mentally tired after running through his mistakes in his mind many times. He is remorseful at the trouble he has caused and apprehensive about the future.
Is Sonny the protagonist in "Sonny's Blues"?
Yes, Sonny is the protagonist in "Sonny's Blues," largely because of the conflict he faces and because his story is the one readers are emotionally invested in. The title is another clue that this is Sonny's story, not the narrator's.
Why does Sonny set down the cup of scotch while playing the piano in "Sonny's Blues"?
Sonny sets down the cup of scotch while playing the piano as a symbolic gesture in "Sonny's Blues." It represents the "cup of trembling," embodying the suffering and struggles Sonny has endured. This moment signifies Sonny's communion with his brother through music, as the narrator recognizes their shared experience and the transformative power of Sonny's blues. The drink becomes a symbol of their bond and Sonny's temporary liberation from his troubles.
In "Sonny's Blues," is Sonny's behavior a result of nature or nurture?
Sonny's behavior in "Sonny's Blues" is a complex interplay of both nature and nurture. The harsh environment of Harlem suggests nurture influences, with social factors and poverty contributing to his struggles. However, Sonny's innate musical talent and sensitivity point to nature, indicating inherent traits. The story leaves the debate open, highlighting both genetic predispositions and environmental impacts, concluding with a hopeful note as Sonny finds solace and control through music.
Character Analysis of Sonny and His Brother in "Sonny's Blues"
In James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues," Sonny and his brother, the narrator, share a deep bond shaped by their struggles with racial and personal trauma. Both seek escape from Harlem's oppressive environment—Sonny through music and the narrator through a conventional life as a teacher. While Sonny is an artistic dreamer who struggles with drug addiction, the narrator is practical and responsible. Their differences create tension, but their shared suffering ultimately unites them, as reflected in Sonny's music, which becomes a medium for mutual understanding and healing.
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