Sonny’s Blues is a story written by James Baldwin that focuses on the life of one family from Harlem. The story centers on the experiences of two brothers; in particular, the youngest one, Sonny, as he gets addicted to heroin and eventually goes to prison for it (Baldwin, 1957). However, readers follow the story from the older brother’s perspective because he is the narrator. During flashbacks, the audience learns more about other family members and the hardship that each of them had to face throughout their lives. The story covers various topics and ideas; therefore, it is vital to fully understand its essence by learning more about characters, setting, and central themes.
The main characters of the story are Sonny and his older brother. Sonny’s brother does not have a specific name; however, the readers perceive the story through his point of view. He is a high-school teacher and has a family with his wife Isabela; they had a child called Grace (Baldwin, 1957). He appears to have a stable life at first glance, but he has struggled his entire life from traumatic events and memories, which he chooses to suppress. On the other hand, Sonny decides to cope with his internal pain with drugs, which leads to an eventual conviction. During his time in jail, Sonny perceives himself as a burden to his family and struggles to explain his motivation to others, as he is quiet and shy. Sonny is a musician, and it plays an essential role in his life, as jazz helps him deal with psychological problems. Other family members mentioned in the story are the mother, father, and uncle. All of the characters have experienced unsettling events due to racism, war, and living situation.
The setting of the story varies based on the episode explored in the story. Two brothers grew up in Harlem, which plays a vital role in the narrative, as this place had a harmful influence on their development. This is especially visible when Sonny and his brother drove past the park, where Sonny reflects on the apparent differences between this area and the poor neighborhood of Harlem (Baldwin, 1957). Moreover, minor parts of the story recall the prison, funeral, and war settings. The final part of Sonny’s Blues occurs in the nightclub, as Sonny and his brother had a moment of bonding for the first time throughout the narrative.
The story has various central themes, including internal pain, problems with communication, and general misunderstanding. All characters from Sonny’s Blues experience psychological distress due to different factors influencing their well-being. Mental health is essential for healthy and happy living; therefore, the story enables readers to understand the adverse effects that can occur after the treatment is ignored. Moreover, when the narrator is having flashbacks, readers understand that Sonny and his brother never listened to each other. The reason for this was the lack of proper communication, which is essential for a proper relationship within a family. Lastly, the audience learns that Sonny was not fully understood by his relatives, which influenced his final decision to use heroin as a coping mechanism. Overall, the story presents the importance of healthy communication and treatment of trauma.
In conclusion, Sonny’s Blues is a profound story that explores various essential issues through the lives of one family from Harlem. The story explores complex topics of addiction, misunderstanding, mental health, and trauma. James Baldwin effectively covers all the issues by exploring the lives of two brothers, their communication, and subsequent decisions. The story is effective in portraying the adverse consequences of racism, poverty, and drugs. Lastly, this story is unique as it does it through the observation of characters’ personalities and emotional state.
Reference
Baldwin, J. (1957). Sonny’s blues. The Partisan Review.