Student Question

What does the narrator's mother ask him to do for Sonny and does he keep the promise?

Quick answer:

The narrator's mother asks him to look after his younger brother, Sonny. Initially, the narrator fails to keep this promise due to his inability to understand Sonny's perspective and his high expectations. He dismisses Sonny when he encounters trouble. However, by the end of the story, the narrator begins to connect with Sonny and starts to fulfill his mother's request by understanding Sonny's world better.

Expert Answers

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The narrator's mother asks him to keep an eye on his younger brother.  But the narrator doesn't understand Sonny, and quickly dismisses Sonny when he gets into trouble.  As Sonny's friend in the beginning explains to him, the narrator has expectations that are too high, and he can not see the world through the eyes of others.  It isn't until the end of the story that the narrator begins to break through into Sonny's world.

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