Although it seems to be a cold and dark place Harlem is well known for its music, and that is what filled Sonny’s life. Music is the one positive thing that Sonny did have to look forward to in his life even though his family may not have understood it. It took his brother many years and finally going to listen to him play to understand what he had been through and what his music was about for him. The older brother started out the story really not wanting to know what was going on with Sonny because I think of the guilt and pain it caused him to think about it. You can tell by his story that not being there in the most important times of Sonny’s life has left him with a lot of heartache.
Mayo 1 Angela Mayo Brian Linville English 103 September 13, 2011 Sonny’s Blues Sonny's Blues is a story about two brothers lives shown through extreme circumstances of growing up in the ghettos of Harlem, who struggle to understand each other. James Baldwin writes about the brothers ultimate goal to repair their relationship, that has been turned upside down ultimately because of their harsh surroundings. Over time, they begin to understand each other for who they are, rather than who they want each other to be. The overall theme of the story is not necessarily to be your “brothers keeper”, but to just be there for your brother. Not just in the physical regards or controlling ways, but mentally and emotionally available.
In Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin,Sonny's brother discovers that he has been arrested for possession of drugs.He reminisces on their past as children and can only imagine how his students could probably be doing the same things Sonny was. Sonny's brother has never accepted Sonny's way of life.He believed that the right way of life was to get an education and a good career.Sonny lived his life on drugs and with the dream of being a musician.Sonny and his brother were complete opposites which was a problem for their relationship.When his daughter dies,he finally decides to get in communication with Sonny. Music is a very important theme in Sonny's blues. Sonny's brother always had a difficult time understanding why Sonny would want to grow up
Taleisha Billingsley October 12, 2011 ENG 102 Fences, by August Wilson, is a compelling play which delves deep into the mind of a man, an African American man whose life has given much to regret but so much more to be thankful for. After reading such a work of literary tutelage, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is in fact our life’s difficulties that allow us to celebrate and appreciate the fortunes that are bestowed on us. The story takes place post World War II. Our main character, Troy Maxson, is an uptight city worker who is a proud husband and father. Though considering his treatment of the two, it could be difficult to recognize.
He did not have a understanding of it. He felt like it was an inferior thing. However, when he seen what it was he understood his brother a lot more and even himself. Sonny on the other hand, used the music from the start to release what was burning inside of him. The drugs came about as a first option.
A Look at James Baldwin's “Sonny's Blues” Michael Clark, in a critical analysis essay he wrote on James Baldwin's “Sonny's Blues”, examines the ways in which Baldwin uses images of light and darkness to tell the story of two brother's. Thus, being Sonny and his elder brother. Clark points out in his essay that Sonny finds his life a living hell, yet he knows enough to try and strive for better, for that saving light. He also believes that Sonny sees music as something positive and by not mastering music will result in a downfall in his life. Not only does Clark express his point of view on Sonny and his older brother, he also has the idea that the brothers' father, mother, uncle, and the elder brother's daughter Gracie each represented
This setting plays a huge role in the story, due as a result of Sonny choosing to start dealing with drugs to escape the feeling of being locked in by his environment. In the surroundings there are prostitutes, people re suffering from poverty and struggle, and people taking risky chances to make
This ethnography conducted by Bourgois and Schonberg really highlighted the problems of racism among the Edgewater community. I was honestly shocked to learn how prevalent racism was among the homeless community. I had previously thought that because these people were in such poor conditions, trying to do anything to survive, they would look past such divisions such as racism in order to help themselves survive and get back on their feet. This wasn’t the only thing that surprised me however. It was the fact that the homeless addicts weren’t just sitting around getting high and injecting heroin, but were actually trying to go out and get jobs and homes once again.
Tragedies affect people in all different ways. In this story one brother, the narrator goes in the direction of education while Sonny goes down the road of drugs and music. There is more to why Sonny took this path even though tragedy may have been the catalyst. The times were very hard on the African American community at that time and in this story
Music videos have contributed to the depiction as well. Violence has been greatly impacted on the black community. From rappers glorifying time served in jail or surviving several bullet wounds, today’s black community believes this is a way of life for some. The black man has decided to trade college for the