Student ID : 1003146
Sonny’s Blues Symbolizations
Sonny’s Blues is a famous short story written by James Baldwin. The story tells about the brotherhood between 2 black-men siblings – an elder brother and his younger brother named Sonny. Sonny wanted to be a musician but his brother disagreed with him, the conflicts between them and his unableness to reach his dream to become a musician led Sonny to start using heroin.
In Sonny’s Blues, there are many symbolizations used which can be identified, some of them are the name of the speaker’s daughter –Grace, scotch and milk, and the term ‘cup of trembling’. Each of them has a really deep meaning although the deep meaning itself can not be seen explicitly by the readers.
Grace, the daughter of the speaker (Sonny’s elder brother), was told to be death because of Polio. The word Grace itself means forgiveness, repentance, regeneration, and salvation, mean something as broad as describing the whole of God 's activity toward man or as narrow as describing one segment of that activity. An accurate, common definition describes grace as the unmerited favor of God toward man (Baker 's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, 2012). In the story, this symbolization came up with the idea that Sonny’s freedom was paid by the death of grace. It might also indicates that Sonny’s sins were forgiven by god through the ‘sacrifice’ of Grace’s soul. In the story, there is a line stated,
“There was a long pause, while they talked up there in the indigo light and after awhile I saw the girl put a Scotch and milk on top of the piano for Sonny.”
In a comment written by Keith Byreman in "Words and Music: Narrative Ambiguity in 'Sonny 's Blues.’", he stated that the Scotch and milk drink is "an emblem of simultaneous destruction and nurture to the system; it cannot be reduced to one or the other. Sonny 's acceptance of it indicates that he will continue on the edge between the poison of his addiction and the nourishment of his music" (1982 : 371). In the last line of the story, we can also find the term cup of trembling,
“For me, then, as they began to play again, it glowed and shook above my brother 's head like the very cup of trembling”
The term cup of trembling actually derived from the bible, Isaiah 51: 17-22. One of the sources stated
Sonny’s drink is likened to a “cup of trembling” which he sips from as he plays. This seems an ambiguous image. Baldwin may be saying that the artist/musician can never escape the “cup of
trembling,” that his music depends on feeling, understanding and expressing the fear and sorrow of his people. Or, Baldwin may be saying that Sonny, in taking from the cup of trembling himself, allows his listeners to abstain; that is, his suffering translated into music inoculates his audience from feeling the same depths of suffering. (cai.ucdavis.edu, 2012)
Therefore, it can be concluded that the symbolizations used in Sonny’s Blues are strongly related to religious-life. It can be assumed that the writer’s thought and beliefs have really influenced the symbolizations found in Sonny’s Blues.
References : 1. Class Lecture on Sonny’s Blues, 2012 [online] available at : http://cai.ucdavis.edu/uccp/sblecture.html 2. Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin, 2012 [online] available at :
http://www.gradesaver.com/sonnys-blues/wikipedia/introduction/
References: : 1. Class Lecture on Sonny’s Blues, 2012 [online] available at : http://cai.ucdavis.edu/uccp/sblecture.html 2. Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin, 2012 [online] available at : http://www.gradesaver.com/sonnys-blues/wikipedia/introduction/
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
The story, Sonny’s Blues, describes the lives of two brothers growing up in Harlem in the early 1960’s. Sonny and his brother are different in the way the go about life in general. They were both raised in the same household, yet they grew up to be totally different people. As the story progresses we see that both brothers have troubles in their lives and we get to see how each thinks and acts when facing such ordeals. While the brothers differ in the way they internalize and cope with their problems, they both show selfish characteristics, but ultimately feel remorseful for not being in each others’ lives.…
- 1083 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
In Sonny’s Blues, the narrator is self-reflecting his experiences with various family members such as his mother and his younger brother, Sonny. Sonny and the narrator are brothers with a 7 year difference between them. The narrator was disappointed with Sonny at first due to his interest in becoming a musician. He thought it was a phase he was was going through and maybe it would pass. The older brother patronized Sonny with his insincere interest in music at first until it angered Sonny and he told his brother “don’t do me no favors”.…
- 861 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
“Sonny’s Blues” is a short story by the author James Baldwin. It is a story about two brothers and `their severe struggles in Harlem and the different ways in which they handled them. The author shows through the narrator and his brother Sonny how two individuals can follow two totally different life paths, be distant for most of their lives, but in the end find common ground through a shared understanding of the pain of human struggle, which this case expressed by Jazz. Through giving the main character specific character traits, the author shapes the central conflict that gives meaning to the story. The central conflict follows the formula person vs. self, because the narrator struggles between feeling the desire to take care of Sonny and the impulse to throwing Sonny to the curb because of his always values and bad decisions. The narrator starts to realize many things starting after the death of his daughter Grace and culminating with him finally listening to his brother play music. The central idea resolves it self by the Narrator empathizing with his brothers struggles in life and finally understanding through Sonny’s music how he dealt with that suffering. This allows him to realize that he must embrace the conflicting nature of his feelings for Sonny and that the bonds of brotherhood should transcend these things.…
- 1557 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
tells of seeing his brother play piano in a jazz club, and of sending up to his brother a drink—a mixture of Scotch whiskey and milk. As the story closes this unusual mixture sets atop Sonny’s piano “like the very cup of trembling.”…
- 628 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
James Baldwin’s literary piece “Sonny’s Blues” is one that can be interpreted in Various ways. However, it is clear that one theme repeated throughout the short story is the idea of emotional complications attached to brotherhood. One which evokes positive intentions along with an extremely strong desire to make sure your brother is okay. Still, this feeling can unintentionally become dreadful. This is depicted in Sonny’s Blues as it overcomes the narrator's senses suppressing him from not only understanding but listening to other people's perception, which Keith E. Byerman also illustrates in his piece, “Words And Music: Narrative ambiguity In ‘Sonny’s Blues.’” Baldwin’s use of Blues depicts the power of nonverbal communication that enables…
- 1227 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Annotated Bibliography: The power struggle in “Sonny’s Blues” Baldwin, James. Sonny 's Blues. 10th ed. N.p.: publisher, 1957. Print.…
- 387 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
James Baldwin was a great story teller and preacher living in Harlem. He wrote many novels and Sonny’s Blues was one of them. Even thought this story was not his own biography it seems like James Baldwin was familiar with those chronicles, but the story was very interesting and moving as a black man living as minority.…
- 321 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
In the short story “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin a schoolteacher from the city of Harlem struggles with life and figuring out how to helped his troubled brother. All though named Sonny’s Blues the main character is actually Sonny’s brother who is the narrator and goes through his life and how he reacts to the many problems his younger brother has come into. The brothers grew up in the poverty stricken city of Harlem where the brothers had to avoid drugs and violence constantly. Growing up, Sonny struggled to stay out of trouble and ended up making some bad decisions throughout his life and ends up landing him in jail and addicted to heroin. The un-named brother of Sonny who is the narrator of the story begins to realize he should help his brother instead of pushing him away after the arrest and by the end has completely changed his view on what he thinks of Sonny and becomes sympathetic.…
- 829 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In this Literary Analysis Essay I will be analyzing a story called “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin. This story is one that many may be able to relate to in there day to day life. Struggle, hardship, and family are all things involved in this story. There are many struggles between both characters and their family. In “Sonny’s Blues,” both the narrator and his brother, Sonny, are in extreme conflicts with one another, living in Harlem, and there family. All of these factors lead you into the climax of the story.…
- 890 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” the reader meets Sonny, a recovering addict, and his older brother, a high school teacher. Although these two brothers have completely different lives and personalities, the author’s use of symbolism brings them more tightly together like a real family. Baldwin uses symbols such as ice, lightness and darkness, and jazz music to add more depth and meaning to “Sonny’s Blues.”…
- 1275 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Fictional writing is generally done just to entertain readers. Some authors create stories with a singular point of view, while others introduce more complex plots and storylines. When it comes to author James Baldwin’s short story Sonny’s Blues, there is much depth given to the storyline and the characters. Sonny’s Blues has been analyzed by many different people throughout time because the story has many elements. From Baldwin’s skillful use of metaphors and similes to his incorporation of religious references, this story is insightfully and complexly written. A simple story about a man and his brother leaves readers with an inside look into family, drug addiction, socioeconomic struggles in the Black community, and the language of Jazz music.…
- 2329 Words
- 10 Pages
Good Essays -
The narrator of “Sonny’s Blues”, by James Baldwin, tells the story of his brother’s relationship with drugs, and their environment. Unlike most of the men in Harlem, the narrator has succeeded in life. He is raising a loving family, and he has a steady job as a math teacher. However, the narrator is always cautious of the dangers that lurk in Harlem. He knows he should help take care of Sonny, but it is hard for him. It is hard for the narrator to get over his skepticism and actually understand his brother so he can help him. The narrator has a hard time connecting with his brother because he does not approve of Sonny’s desire to be a musician, he feels guilty for Sonny’s drug addiction, and he seems unemotional.…
- 760 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
James Baldwin's short story "Sonny's Blues," is about more than just a man and his brother, Sonny. This story is about a man and his struggle overcoming the death of his daughter, the drug addiction of his brother, and the hardship he has to go through being black in Harlem. The story is about the necessity of family, the differences between art and practicality, the power of music to heal, and the importance of listening. Baldwin successfully discusses the wide range of issues through the use of catharsis, non-linear plot, and first person point of view. Baldwin takes the reader on a journey that makes this story as personal as a diary.…
- 287 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The story Sonny's Blues is about suffering and pain. The theme of the the story is redemption. At the beginning of the story, the narrator seems to be out of touch with himself and disconnected from his community. When his daughter dies he gradually begins to comprehend the depth of his brother's struggle. He later reconnects with his brother to rekindle their relationship. At first, he is hesitant to accept his brothers desire to be a musician. After hearing Sonny play, the narrator accepts the meaning of his brothers life. By accepting his brother he is able to accept himself and his community. This was a true moment of redemption for the narrator and his brother Sonny. It’s as if they were lost and then found themselves through acceptance.…
- 345 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
The story "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin is about two African-American brothers, the narrator (a schoolteacher) and Sonny (a jazz pianist), who struggle to understand each other. The narrator is a stable family man with a wife and two sons. He is older than Sonny and has tried, all throughout his life, to protect him. The story begins as the narrator, who has been estranged from Sonny for over a year, reads about a drug raid in which Sonny has been arrested. As guilt and sorrow wash over him, the story continues with the narrator remembering his past with Sonny and finding means that lead him back to why Sonny is the way he is. Some of them include a flashback the narrator had about his father and the death of his uncle, a street corner revival, and an old friend of Sonny's who tries to explain why Sonny does what he does.…
- 429 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays