F Scott Fitzgerald

3 Pages 739 Words

In James Baldwin’s story, Sonny’s Blues the author uses the main characters and subtle hints of racism to illustrate the theme. The theme simply stated is that after people grow up and go away from each other for a while that eventually people comeback to reunite with childhood friends and family. The story starts out with Sonny’s brother taking the subway, so that he can go to his teaching job at the high school. While teaching that day, he has this very uneasy feeling in his stomach. That very uneasy feeling in Sonny’s brother’s stomach is like a melting block of ice, similar to that cold, tingly, feeling somebody has all over his body. Sonny’s brother also is the narrator for the entire story.
Then the story truly begins when, the author uses the literary technique of flashback to talk about how Sonny just got arrested for selling and using heroin. The story explains how Sonny uses his music to express how he feels. For example, if Sonny feels angry he writes lyrics for a song that represents his anger. Sonny was the perfect child in his father’s eyes. Sonny’s father wanted Sonny to become something more distinguished, than a jazz musician. Sonny followed his heart and became one anyway. The text implies that Sonny goes his own separate way from everyone else in his family; and that he is more passionate then prudent. Creole is the bass player that leads the jazz band of which Sonny is a member. This character is very unique because he gets to play the role of a fatherly figure. The purpose of the fatherly figure is to provide Sonny not only with guidance in his music but also with guidance in Sonny’s life. Creole tries hard to show to Sonny’s brother that sometimes it is better to just let go even if it is difficult.
The story progresses to when Sonny and Sonny’s brother are having a conversation about why Sonny chose to leave Harlem, New York. Sonny states that he left Harlem to get away from...