Sunday, May 17, 2020
Drugs and Musicians in ââ¬ÅSonnyââ¬â¢s Bluesââ¬Â by James Baldwin Essay
When first reading ââ¬Å"Sonnyââ¬â¢s Bluesâ⬠by James Baldwin, it may initially seem that the relationship between musicians and drugs is synonymous. Public opinion suggests that musicians and drugs go hand and hand. The possibility lies that Sonnyââ¬â¢s passion for jazz music is the underlying reason for his drug use, or even the world of jazz music itself brought drugs into Sonnyââ¬â¢s life. The last statement is what the narrator believes to be true. However, by delving deeper and examining the theme of music in the story, it is nothing but beneficial for Sonny and the other figures involved. Sonnyââ¬â¢s drug use and his music are completely free of one another. Sonny views his jazz playing as a ray of light to lead him away from the dim and dismal futureâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The story mentions at one point that the music stops and so does the barmaid. It has her full attention and she waits for it to start back. The music is the manipulator and she is i ts marionette waiting for it to guide her again. A few more examples that music soothes and comforts the soul are the mother gently humming while Sonny is out on the streets, Sonnyââ¬â¢s brother, the narrator, whistles to keep from crying after reconciliation with Sonny fails. At first glance these may seem to be insignificant details, but when analyzed they prove that music is a source people lean on for comfort whenever they are in a state of worry or despair. Perhaps one of the strongest demonstrations of the power of music in ââ¬Å"Sonnyââ¬â¢s Bluesâ⬠is the street revival. Everyone has seen these types of revivals before. Every song has been heard by the crowd, but when the music starts everyone stops, watches, and listens. ââ¬Å"As the singing filled the air the watching, listening faces underwent a change, the eyes focusing on something within; the music seemed to soothe a poison out of them; and time seemed, nearly, to fall away from the sullen, belligerent, bat tered facesâ⬠(57). The music from the street revival helps lifts the hopelessness from the crowd and provides a sense of relief. Music is able to bring people from all walks of life together. It gives them a sense of calm and ease, an assurance that something is there to help. Music listens.Show MoreRelatedAdversity In Sonnys Blues By James Baldwin892 Words à |à 4 PagesJames Baldwinââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Sonnyââ¬â¢s Bluesâ⬠utilizes race, poverty, stereotypes, and adversity to shine a light on the struggle to escape circumstance. Throughout the text, Baldwin describes the hardships leaching the life out of Harlemââ¬â¢s black community from the narratorââ¬â¢s perspective. Sonny, the narratorââ¬â¢s brother, struggles with his identity and ability to feel emotion leading him to the world of music and drugs, ââ¬Å"To be aware of oneself, Baldwin believes, is to feel a sense of loss, to know where we are andRead MoreJames Baldwin s Sonny s Blues905 Words à |à 4 Pagesthere is a work by James Baldwin entitled Sonnyââ¬â¢s Blues. What interests me about this work is the quote, ââ¬Å"For, while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. There isnââ¬â¢t any other tale to tell, itââ¬â¢s the only light weââ¬â¢ve got in all this darkness.â⬠In this connection, the question that I want to research is why would a man like James Baldwin represent a character like Sonny in Sonnyââ¬â¢s Blues? James Baldwin is a man of his wordsRead MoreAnalysis Of Sonnys Blues By James Baldwin956 Words à |à 4 PagesJames Baldwin was born on August 2, 1924, to a single mother in Harlem. After his mother married his stepfather David Baldwin, who was a Baptist minister, he was adopted by him. Growing up, he didnââ¬â¢t feel as if he was accepted the way his other siblings were, though. In some of Baldwin stories, they often have a similar story line where it seems he is the le ss favored child over everyone else. In ââ¬Å"Sonnyââ¬â¢s Blues,â⬠a similar scenario is presented in some ways. While the unnamed narrator often speaksRead More Mending the Relationship of Two Brothers in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues1292 Words à |à 6 PagesMending the Relationship of Two Brothers in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues According to Liukkonen, James Baldwin is well known for his novels on sexual and personal identity, and sharp essays on civil-rights struggle in the United States. Sonnys Blues is no exception to this. The story takes place in Harlem, New York in the 1950s and tells of the relationship between two brothers. The older brother, who is the narrator and a participant in the novel, remains unnamed throughout the storyRead MoreDrug Abuse In Sonnys Blues803 Words à |à 4 PagesRough Draft James Baldwinââ¬â¢s short story ââ¬Å"Sonnyââ¬â¢s Bluesâ⬠is a timeless piece of literature. In this story, Baldwin captures the reality of drug abuse. He tackles the aspects that accompany it, including the consequences that follow and the impact it has on others. Alongside the underlying themes of this story are memorable characters and an impactive message. ââ¬Å"Sonnyââ¬â¢s Bluesâ⬠leads a story that can easily take place in everyday life. ââ¬Å"Sonnyââ¬â¢s Bluesâ⬠is about two brothers. One whom is an unnamed algebraRead MoreEssay about Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin1003 Words à |à 5 PagesSonny and his nameless brother in Sonnys Blues. We learn their mannerisms, hobbies, occupations, and even their addictions. It seems we learn nearly everything about the pair; minus the narrators name, as previously stated. Hearing of their histories and the pains theyve under gone, we see how they deal with their pain, which often truly tells character. Sonnys Blues isnt a story of two brothers living in a rough city; one of whom is a talented musician. The story is so much more, its theRead MoreJames Baldwin s Connections With Sonny s Blues996 Words à |à 4 Pages James Baldwinââ¬â¢s Connections with Sonnyââ¬â¢s Blues On August 2, 1924, in New Yorkââ¬â¢s Harlem neighborhood James Author Baldwin was born. Known as one of the most influential black writers of the twentieth century, James Baldwin wrote on real issues that many people faced in the United States during his time. His writing dealt with the reality of life and tangled with everything from human sexuality, race, and poverty. He was a great reflection of his time and his short story, Sonnyââ¬â¢s Blues showsRead MoreJames Baldwin s Reality Through Sonny1253 Words à |à 6 Pages James Baldwinââ¬â¢s Reality through Sonny Sonnyââ¬â¢s Blues digs deeply into the ââ¬Å"Negro Americanâ⬠during Civil Rights and Jim Crow Eraââ¬â¢s. Set in Harlem, New York in the 1950ââ¬â¢s. James Baldwinââ¬â¢s stories give insight based on events of his culture and this becomes apparent through the analysis of the characters in Sonnyââ¬â¢s Blues. James Baldwin uses his talents to paint a vivid picture of African American life through a fictional story of two brothers who choseRead MoreJames Baldwin s Sonny s Blues1452 Words à |à 6 PagesJames Baldwinââ¬â¢s Sonnyââ¬â¢s Blues is a short story that, for some people, could be considered a challenging read. Not because of the level of difficulty, but for the fact that it shares a lot of human angst. However, Baldwinââ¬â¢s story still manages to be entertaining, as well as holding many life lessons in it. Baldwinââ¬â¢s story teaches lessons such as; dealing with suffering, being supportive, and accepting differences. James Baldwinââ¬â¢s Sonn yââ¬â¢s Blues does a noble job of relating to the readers on variousRead MoreRacism In Sonnys Blues By James Baldwin993 Words à |à 4 Pagesamount of people all over the world. Although racial bias has been around for many years, it only seems to be progressing into something that one simply cannot comprehend. In the short story ââ¬Å"Sonnyââ¬â¢s Blues,â⬠the author, James Baldwin, emphasizes the lasting effect of racism throughout the story. While Baldwin vaguely expresses the impact of racial bias on the character Sonny, the audience infers the idea the author is trying to convey. In the story, racism is a significant factor of symbolism portrayed
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.