James :: essays research papers

A captivating tale of relationship of cardinal troubling brothers in Harlem, "Sonnys Blues" is told from a perspective of Sonnys brother, whose name is neer mentioned. Baldwins choice of Sonnys brother as a fibber is what makes "Sonnys Blues" significant in terms of illustrating the relationship and emotional complications of Sonny and his brother. The significance of "Sonnys Blues" lies in the way Sonnys brother describes the relationship based on what he observes, hears, and feels, and how he struggles trying to understand Sonny through the course of the story. As Sonnys brother, he gets to be physically and mentally as close to Sonny as anyone else can. Readers get to know that Sonnys brother is a fairly reliable narrator from the fact that he is an algebra teacher and far less abused by "horse" or "the low ceiling of their actual possibilities" than the kids around the neighborhood, including Sonny. Sonnys brother is aware of what is go ing on between Sonny and him and accurately describes the relationship, "The seven years difference in our ages lay between us like a chasm I wondered if these years would ever take to the woods between us as a bridge." (44) The "chasm" is where the story begins, and revolves around the entire story. Sonnys brother is aware of the "chasm," yet what Sonny is thinking remains mysterious since the narrator himself does not know. His narration allows readers to keep wondering and exploring flaky and "dreamlike" mind of Sonny. Sonnys brother stands as a major character and also as a first person narrator, meaning that he is a participant in the action. Baldwin achieves the sense of vividness by placing the narrator right in the middle of the action. "I started down the steps, whistling to keep from crying, I kept whistling to myself, You going to need me, baby, one of these cold, rainy days." (54) After an awful fight, Sonnys brother is disappoint ed at Sonny and himself. His whistling vividly conveys his struggle, despair and also love for his brother, allowing readers to get into his feeling. Dialogue is effectively used from Sonnys brothers point of view to convey how misunderstanding of two brothers gets built up. In the middle of a long conversation, Sonnys brother notes, "I simply couldnt see why on earth hed want to spend his meter hanging around nightclubs, clowning around on bandstands, while people pushed each other around a dance floor.